Joan A. Weidensee
December 31, 1935 — December 27, 2023
Watertown
Joan A. Weidensee
December 31,1935 - December 27,2023 Watertown
Joan Angeline (Moran) Weidensee, (age 87) of Watertown, Wisconsin passed into eternal life on Wednesday evening December 27th 2023, just 4 days short of her 88th birthday. She is preceded by her husband of 64 years, Eugene Richard Weidensee; and her parents, Lester Moran and Victoria (John)Moran. Joan is survived by 9 children: Catherine Fagan (Michael), Christopher Weidensee, Leslie Weidensee (Raymond Goerig), Richard Weidensee (Rebecca), Jennifer Weidensee (David Focardi), Rochelle Weidensee (Patrick Jung), Matthew Weidensee, Martin Weidensee (Candice) and Joan's youngest child, friend and caretaker, Karen Weidensee. Joan was also blessed with 9 surviving grandchildren and two great grandchildren, respectively: Adam Fagan (Jana), Katherine Jung, Aloysius Jung, Frances Jung, Jonathan Weidensee, Angeline Flaata (Noah), Joanna Weidensee, Alida Weidensee, Mara Weidensee, Erika Fagan and Sofia Fagan.
Joanie was born an only child to Les and 'Vicca' surrounded by cousins and second cousins, many older than herself that made up Her extended family. Her closest friends in life she met while attending Gesu parish and Pius High School while growing up in the Milwaukee area. The most familiar to her family are: Kay 'Aunt Kay' Kwiatkowski and Katherine 'Kitty' Depratt (deceased). Joan loved to sing and displayed early talent, performing in school musical programs and plays where she met her future husband, Eugene. She loved "Smoky torch songs" and followed the careers of the singers of her day. Her musical tastes crossed from Patsy Cline, Jo Stafford to Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James.
Besides Joan's love of music which she enthusiastically shared with her children, she was an avid reader who read often to her children and encouraged them, while they were still very young, to pick up the love of books and to enjoy the stories and adventures they contained. Because of these inspirational teachings, Joan was brought to the attention of Journalist Dorothy Witte Austin of the Milwaukee Journal, who on July 22,1965 wrote an article interviewing Joan and seven of her children at the local Finney Library where they were busy choosing reading material for the summer downtime and Family camping trip.
Joan and her husband Eugene raised their 9 children in the Catholic faith, spending many of their young family years within the community and parish of St. Thomas Aquinas church & elementary School in Milwaukee. It wasn't always easy for such a large family, but there were other large families within the parish too. Eugene sometimes had to work two jobs. Joan, who had worked in the telephone industry as an operator, took other work as a receptionist for St. Anthony's Hospital. Soon, shifting her vision, she began attending MATC to become a Registered Nurse to help support their growing family and continued in this field until she retired from Watertown Hospital in 2001.
Joan's young family were not all brought up in the big city of Milwaukee. She, Eugene and the younger half of their children not yet attending college, lived a good many years on their Neillsville farm. Attaining the dream of her husband Eugene to return to an agrarian life. Joan continued on as an RN, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, when economic pressures of the 1980's were putting many small family-owned farms out of business, they sold their farm and moved to Watertown. Joan got a position as an RN with Watertown Hospital. Joan's now smaller family, moved from town to a small farm they purchased outside of town on Engelhardt Road. They resided there until her husband Eugene retired from working a rural route for the Watertown Daily Times. Joan was still employed as an RN at Watertown Hospital. At this point, their children were grown and living lives of their own. Joan and Eugene moved again, downsizing their lives to their current home on Oak Hill Court in Watertown.
Both, in their elder years, they were attended by their youngest daughter Karen as both advocate and caretaker. Joan's husband Eugene passed away on April 17th, 2019. Joan followed just 4 years later. Their children love and greatly miss them both.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Joan's name to St. Henry's Catholic Church would be appreciated.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00PM on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at St. Henry's Catholic Church of Watertown with Fr. Timothy Renz presiding. Visitation will be held from 10:00AM until the time of service at the church. Joan will be laid to rest at St. Henry's Catholic Cemetery following the mass.
The Schmutzler-Vick Funeral Home is caring for the family. To place an online condolence please visit www.sv-fh.com
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Saturday, January 6, 2024
10:00am - 12:00 pm (Central time)
St. Henry's Catholic Church
Mass
Saturday, January 6, 2024
12:00 - 1:00 pm (Central time)
St. Henry's Catholic Church
Guestbook
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