Joanne Duke

Gladys Joanne Nuttall Duke passed away November 16, 2023 due to end stage Parkinson Disease. Joanne was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 8, 1942 to Gladys Spry Nuttall and Clifford Nuttall (Yorgason). She was the youngest of six children. Her family moved to San Fernando Valley when she was a toddler and spent her childhood there. She liked riding horses, going to the beach and swimming in the ocean. She loved school and really enjoyed the sciences. She graduated from Reseda High School in 1960. Inspired by a teacher, she applied and was accepted into BYU College of Nursing. She graduated from BYU in 1964. After graduation, she went back to California and worked at St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton, California. Some friends set her up on a blind date and that was when she met Robert Duke. They were married on October 28, 1966 in Fullerton. She and Robert welcomed sons, Michael, Steven and Kevin while in California. They and the boys were later sealed in the Los Angeles Temple on April 11, 1970. They welcomed Cheryl and Cindy a few years later. In 1976, Joanne and her family moved to Perry, Utah and Jason joined the family. They lived in Perry 44 years. Joanne worked at the Brigham City Community Hospital and Logan Regional Hospital for many years. She later taught in the nursing program at Weber State University and Utah State University. While still teaching and raising 6 children she went back to school and earned her Master's Degree in nursing from the University of Utah in 1985. In 1995, she started working on a doctorate degree in Neurobiology, but decided she wanted to spend more time with grandchildren. At the time of her retirement in 2004, she was the Director of Nursing at Utah State University. After her retirement, she worked as a hospice nurse for six years. Joanne believed that her education changed her life and as a result changed her children's lives for the better. Her children knew that going to college was not a question of if they go, but more of a question of which school they were going to. Joanne was an avid reader and was never without a book. She loved music and singing and made sure each of her children played at least one instrument. This led to caroling and frozen instruments on Christmas Eve nights. Joanne enjoyed sewing, quilting and crocheted many blankets for her grandchildren. Joanne was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in various callings. She loved genealogy and teaching Gospel Doctrine. She is survived by her six children: Michael (Lisa) Duke of Perry, Steven (Andra) Duke of Lehi, Kevin (Shanna) Duke of North Logan, Cheryl (Douglas) Burgan of Mantua, Cynthia Hazelwood of South Ogden and Jason (Marianne) Duke of Layton. She loved and adored her 22 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, her parents, her siblings, and a granddaughter Kate Duke. Her family would like to thank Applegate Hospice for all of their love and care of mom over the last year, especially Annette, Carissa, Brooke and Dr. Firth. Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 27, 2023 at 10:00 am at the Perry 2nd Ward Chapel, 2415 S. 900 W., Perry, Utah, where the services will be live streamed https://my.gather.app/remember/joanne-duke Viewings will be held on Sunday, November 26, 2023 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Gillies Funeral Chapel, 634 E 200 S., Brigham City, Utah and at the church on Monday from 9:00 to 9:45 am. Interment will be in the Brigham City Cemetery. Send condolences at www.gfc-utah.com