Marjorie Joan Jackson Orr

February 9, 1931   ~   August 19, 2025

Joan Orr passed away peacefully and surrounded by love in her home at the age of 94 on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. She was a loving wife, mother, and caring friend to many.

Joan was born on February 9,1931 in South Bend, Indiana to the late Bert M and Marjorie L (Reasor) Jackson. She attended Riley High School graduating in 1950. While attending Riley High School, Joan was involved with the Glee Club, Drama Club, and received a Home Economics Award.

Joan married Alan E. Nelson in 1958 and had two children. She spent her adult life as a homemaker and wife. In the 1970’s Joan and Al bought a cottage on Klinger Lake where they remodeled a 1938 log cabin into a home and spent a significant amount of time until the early 80’s. They made many wonderful lifetime lake friendships. Joan and Al were members of the South Bend Country Club, and Klinger Lake Country Club. Together they owned Key West Gourmet Seafood business in the late 70’s for almost a decade. Joan was an amazing cook and authored a Seafood Cookbook. Unfortunately, shortly after retiring to N. Ft Meyers, Florida in 1988, Joan lost Al to cancer.

Joan was blessed to marry a second time in 2001 to Denny R. Orr, and they lived a happy life traveling all over the world while living in Ft. Meyers, Florida. Joan took up golfing with Denny and they were members of the Del Tura Country Club. They moved back to South Bend in 2005 where Denny passed in 2007.

Joan is preceded in death by her first husband, Alan E. Nelson and her second husband, Denny R. Orr. She is also preceded in death by her siblings, Gwen (Jackson) Cutter, and Richard Jackson. Joan is survived by children John Nelson (Barbara) and Judy (Nelson) Shertzer, grandchild Kate Shertzer, step grandchildren AJ Montgomery (Brittni), and Mandy Duggin (Derrick), a niece, and two nephews.

Joan donated her body to the Indiana University Medical Center where she will be later cremated and returned to her son for a private ceremony.

Rest in peace Mom, Aunt Jo, Joan, you will be missed dearly.

8/26/2025 djb

sbt