JoAnn M. Trader

JoAnn M. Trader, 94, passed away peacefully at Trezevant Home in Memphis on September 28th, 2025. She was born in Emmons, Minnesota to William and Ida Selstad on June 19th, 1931. She had great adventures on the family farm with her three brothers- William, Tom, and Dale. She was a cheerleader and later valedictorian of her high school class in Emmons. Always driven and determined, she attended nursing school at Nave Hospital in Albert Lea. She graduated top of her class, earning her RN certification. After graduation, she traveled to Long Beach, CA with several nursing friends to begin her career at the VA hospital there. She later joined the Air Force as a flight nurse. At Mountain Home A.F.B., she met and married her beloved husband, Lt. Col. John J. Trader III of Havelock, NC. She placed her nursing career on hold to begin a different career as a wife and mother. In 1980, she returned to nursing as the Director of Nurses at Waldon Nursing home. She ended her nursing career as an allergy nurse. She had a strong Christian faith, which she held throughout her entire life. She enjoyed sharing the love of Jesus with everyone. She was active as a CBN counselor and enjoyed attending church and their events regularly. She donated generously to a variety of Christian charities along with her church. She is survived by her four daughters and their spouses- Julie and Bill Nelson of Memphis, TN, Kristin and Everett London of Charlotte, NC, Jeanne and Michael Sweeney of San Diego, CA and Andrea and Chip McKenna of Winters, CA. She has seven loving grandchildren and their spouses-Kristin and Sean Nugent, William and Emily Nelson, Jonathan and Marija Nelson, Jessica Sweeney, Ryan and Maddie Sweeney, Nicholas McKenna and Corinne McKenna. She is also survived by seven wonderful great grandchildren- Cailyn Nugent, Luka, Abigail, Niko, Theo, Alice and Mila Nelson. Her loving husband, John, passed away February 28th, 2011. She will be buried alongside him at Arlington National Cemetery. Donations may be made to Covenant House, a charity dear to her heart.