Joan V. Dagerman, 58, of Omaha, died Nov. 1, 2010, at the Hospice House in Omaha after a two-year battle with cancer. Services were Friday, Nov. 5, 2010, at Roeder Mortuary in Omaha. Interment was at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Omaha.

Joan Violet Dagerman was born March 25, 1952, in Omaha to Kenneth and Toody Dagerman. She was baptized at Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church on April 11, 1954.

She attended Benson West Elementary and graduated from Benson High School in 1970.

She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and later earned her master's degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

After graduating from UNL, she accepted a teaching position at the elementary school in Arlington. She taught 5th and 6th grade, primarily science, at the elementary school for 35 years, retiring in 2009. Her classroom was always full of animals, fish, etc.

In addition to experiments, she encouraged her students to participate in science fairs and the Nebraska State Fair in Lincoln. She loved taking her students on outdoor education overnight trips. For many years, she also organized and ran, with the help of others, the elementary carnival.

She also enjoyed playing bridge and attending country music concerts. During the summers, she loved to camp at Mahoney State Park or the Fremont Lakes Park in a motor home. Traveling was another favorite activity, and she often followed the Nebraska Cornhuskers to out-of-town games and bowl games. She enjoyed a cruise to Alaska as well as trips to Canada, Hawaii, England and Paris.

She is survived by her sister, Kathryn; brother and sister-in-law, John and Barb; nieces, nephews, and a great-niece and great-nephew; and many other family members and friends.

Memorials are suggested to the Arlington Education Foundation, the American Cancer Society, or Animal Tracks Inc., PO Box 117, Acton, CA 93510