Joan Catherine (Wilson) Trefry was born February 29, 1928 in St. Paul, MN to Donald and Margaret (Cronin) Wilson.  The Wilsons moved to Marshall, MN where Joan enjoyed ice skating on the Redwood River and riding with her dad pheasant hunting.  The Wilsons settled in Faribault, MN.  Joan spent many summers with her Irish grandparents and cousins down on the farm near Rochester.   She and younger sister Barb also worked at the family’s grocery store in Faribault called Wilson’s Foodland.  Joan graduated from Bethlehem Academy High School with honors in 1946.  She attended College of St. Teresa in Winona, MN earning a bachelor degree in History and proceeded to the University of Minnesota earning her graduate degree in Educational Psychology.

Upon graduation, Joan taught History for five years in Redwood Falls, MN, and met Don Hayden Trefry.  After a one-year teaching stint in Bird Island, Don and Joan were married at Immaculate Conception Church in Faribault on July 1, 1957.  They resided at Don’s family home, where his mother Clara (Hanson) Trefry also lived in the upstairs apartment.  Joan took time off from teaching to raise a family and develop friendships in their West Side neighborhood.   She also volunteered time teaching religion at St. Catherine’s Church where all three of her kids were baptized and confirmed.

Don and Joan went into business in downtown Redwood Falls with the opening of the Golden Cue Billiards on May 8, 1964.  Together with great part-time help, they created a wholesome family atmosphere where children and adults from all backgrounds spent time shooting pool or simply conversing over a bottle of pop.  Both Don and Joan established a reputation for caring and nurturing kids and adults alike.

In 1971, Joan restarted her career at Lincoln High School as the Social Studies and English Resource Center Educator helping create a specialized curriculum learning center.  Joan also tutored many students needing help to reach graduation.  She was the District’s PER Report Executive Secretary, Chairperson for the Curriculum Advisory Committee, MCIS Program Site Manager, and member of the Redwood County Historical Society.  Joan also authored two district newsletters and was a member of the MN Public Relations Association.  She housed the school’s first computer and supported the move to the new school where Joan was the copy center coordinator till her retirement in 1996.

After selling the Golden Cue in 1984, Don and Joan enjoyed fishing, site seeing, and visiting with friends and relatives.  They traveled to destinations in and outside of the United States including a trip back to Joan’s beloved Ireland.  After Don’s passing in 1996, Grandma Joan continued volunteering as President of the Hospital Axillary.  She also enjoyed folding church bulletins with friends and was a devoted member of St. Catherine’s Prayer Chain.  She loved caring for her bird feeders and keeping everyone up on weather reports.  One of Joan’s proudest achievements was becoming a great-grandmother with the birth of Rowan Donald McClary, her “red-headed Irishman”.

Joan Catherine Trefry passed away surrounded by family and friends Thursday, February 20, 2014 at the Redwood Area Hospital in Redwood Falls, MN at the age of 85 years, 11 months, and 22 days.  Joan is survived in death by her sister Barb (Terry) Sarazin of Burnsville; three children Linda (Jeff) Schiller of Redwood Falls, Paul (Maureen) Trefry of Beverly, MA, and Mark Trefry of Redwood Falls; five grandchildren Jamie (Lee) McClary of Minnetonka, Megan (Brent) Henning of Waverly, Jared Schiller and special friend Ann Buboltz of Redwood Falls, Peter Trefry of Beverly, MA, and James Trefry of Mankato; one great-grandchild Rowan Donald McClary of Minnetonka; three nieces Margaret (Tim) Murphy of Inver Grove Heights, Sheila (John) Folkestad of Edina, Jean (Matt) Baron of St. Louis Park, who is also Joan’s godchild.  Joan was preceded in death by her father Donald Wilson, mother Margaret (Cronin) Wilson, and beloved husband Donald Hayden Trefry.