Ellsworth
3/23/1940 - 4/13/2018
Joan was born March 23, 1940, to Leslie and Marie Nelson in Portland. She graduated from Gorham State Teacher’s College in 1962. There she met the love of her life, Ralph Preble. They married Aug. 10, 1963. Residing in Ellsworth, she was an elementary and preschool teacher for 55+ years, helping to raise many of the children in Hancock County. Joan/Mimi taught at the DEF YMCA and was co-owner of Sunshine Nursery School.

Joan was a lifetime member of GSUSA, starting as a Brownie at age 6. She was troop leader for her daughters, troop advisor for her granddaughters, field director, and training director for the Abnaki G.S. Council.

One of the first women to serve at the altar at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, she was a senior warden, Sunday school teacher, and in the ECW. On May 3, 2003, she became an ordained Deacon with the 3 J’s. She volunteered in the Jaycee Wives, Friends-In-Action, The Backpack Program, Everybody Eats and many more.

She joins many waiting for her in Heaven, including her parents, Nannie C and Pappy, her favorite Uncle “Dick”, Reta and John Preble, and soul brother Bill and wife Gwen Renwick and nephew John. She is survived by Ralph; her daughters Bethany Preble (Thaddeus) and Stephanie Vikberg (Veine); grandchildren Lukas and Jakob Jordan (Gracie), Josiah (Autumn) and Callaghan Carter, Raiya and Kjell Vikberg; great-grandchildren William and Thor Carter, Jayce and Jemma Jordan; Uncle Dick’s children Ellen, Jon, and Kristin, brother and sister-in-law Orton (Jane) and Helen (Wes) and families; her Alaskan family the Mountcastles; and many family/friends who were special to her. Joan touched the lives of so many people, who will remember her as a beacon of love and light.

Visiting hours are Friday May 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Moore Community Center, 133 State St., Ellsworth. Her celebration of life (wear bright colors), at 2 p.m. on May 5, at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, 134 State St., Ellsworth will be followed by a reception at the Moore Community Center. In lieu of flowers, please give to The Preble Family Art & Music Scholarship Fund c/o Bangor Savings Bank, 59 Foster St., Ellsworth, ME 04605. Or “pay it forward” with a good deed, or a charity gift.

Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St. Ellsworth. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.