Nancy Joan “Joanie” Peck

Nancy Joan “Joanie” Peck

Lakewood, Colo.

Nancy Joan “Joanie” Peck, nee Justice, 86, went to Heaven on Aug. 17, 2023. A New Orleans jazz funeral to celebrate her life will be held at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, with the burial following at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m.

Joanie was born Sept. 7, 1936, in Chicago, to Robert and Joy (Gayler) Justice. Joanie’s father, a gifted jazz pianist, influenced her love for all types of “good” music.

As a child during World War II, Joanie moved with her mother and brother Bob to southern Illinois and then to California. She attended 22 elementary schools before moving to Marion, Iowa, where she attended Marion High School all four years, while living with her father and step-mother, Lillian (Stewart) Justice.

Joanie married her high school sweetheart, Gerald A. (Jerry) Peck, on Aug. 20, 1954. They lived in Marion for 11 years before moving to Chicago, Dallas and L.A., as a result of Jerry’s promotions with Collins Radio (now Rockwell Collins) for which Jerry worked for 15 years.

Joanie and Gerry returned to Iowa with their three children in 1972 while Gerry worked for Parker Seal Company. They were eventually transferred to Salt Lake City and Chicago over several successful years. Gerry and Joanie returned to Cedar Rapids in 1979 to start their own business which became Dygert-Peck Company (now Fusion), for which Gerry was the President and CEO and Joanie was the vice-president and treasurer.

Joanie worked in banking and accounting while living in Chicago, Dallas and L.A. While in Iowa, Joanie became head teller at City National Bank and Collins Credit Union. Joanie set up the bookkeeping system for Discovery Village and managed their office as well.

Gerry and Joanie were partners in marriage and business, and in 1985 Joanie was named the “Woman of the Year” by the Five Seasons Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association.

Joanie was a 50-year member of the Marion Christian Church and a member of the King’s Daughters. Joanie also volunteered as Mopsy the Clown as part of the Clown Connection at St. Luke’s Hospital.

When Gerry died of brain cancer in 1997, Joanie permanently moved to their winter home in Mesquite, Nev. She joined the Desert Dames and helped to establish and become a charter member of the Mesquite United Methodist Church.

In 2006 Joanie began performing all over the world with the Mesquite Toes, a tap-dancing troupe, which entertained on cruise ships and venues in Nevada, NYC, Mexico, the Caribbean, Greece and Rome. Joanie was awarded several silver and gold medals for dancing in the Senior Olympics held in Las Vegas. In 2009 Joanie was named First Runner Up to Ms. Senior Mesquite. Once Joanie hung up her tap shoes in 2014, she returned to Iowa City to live near her sons, grand-children, and great grand-children until her daughter convinced her to move to New Hampshire and then, finally, Colorado.

Joanie loved music, dancing, gardening, painting and sewing. She was a masterful quilter and head seamstress and costume designer for the Mesquite Toes.

She is survived by her brother, Robert Lee Justice II of San Anselmo, Calif.; three children, Laura (Kevin) Spratt of Littleton, Colo., Jeffrey Peck of Iowa City and Russell Peck of Solon, Iowa; six grandchildren, Nicole (Peck) Beins, Gerald Justin Peck, Robert M. Peck, Christopher Peck, Tyler Spratt and Jefferson Spratt; and nine great-grandchildren, Gus Beins, Teddy Beins, Charlotte Peck, Gerald Dean Peck, Oliver Peck, Lincoln Peck, Sullivan Peck, Hazel Peck and Mackayla Spratt.

She was preceded in death by her parents; step-mother; and her beloved husband of 43 years, Gerald (Gerry) Peck.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.