Joan “JoAnn (Ganske) Goodrich

Joan “JoAnn” (Ganske) Goodrich, 82, of rural Burnett went to be with her heavenly Father on July 19, 2018 at her home. She fought a short courageous battle with Lymphoma.

She was a lifetime member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Beaver Dam. She was born May 29, 1936 to Stanley and Warrene (Spear) Ganske.

She graduated from Juneau High School in 1954. Following high school she attended Mayville Dodge County Teacher’s College and graduated from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She taught 1st and 2nd grades at Fox Lake Elementary School until her retirement in 1991.

She was united in marriage to Calvin “Kelly” Goodrich on August 6, 1977 at Grace Presbyterian Church by Reverend Dr. Garry Kamerling. Joan was an active member of the church with years of service as a deacon, facilitating the church rummage sales and church luncheons.

In her younger years, Joan was a member of the Hyland Prairie 4-H Club taking projects in sewing, beef, and cooking, earning many blue ribbons. Her favorite steer in the beef project was named Herbie and she enjoyed being Dairy Queen for one of her 4-H years. She also helped her Dad show their Belgium Horses at the fair.

After her husband retired from farming, Joan and Kelly took time to travel. Her most cherished memories of traveling were to Hawaii and a cruise to Alaska. Annually, she visited her brother and sister-in-law in Florida.

She was a Member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post # 15 of Juneau for over 30 years. A member of the Happy Homemakers of Juneau since 1977 and remained a member until her death. Joan volunteered at Clearview Nursing Home during Saturday morning Bingo with her grandniece Macy for many years; and through this she instilled the love of volunteering and acceptance of all in her grandniece Macy. In early 2000’s, she joined the local Red Hatter’s Group. One of her favorite associations was the coffee clutch that got together at The Park Avenue Café and McDonald’s.

Serving the Lord and family were most important to Joan. She enjoyed spending time with her niece and nephews and then later her grandnieces and grandnephews.

Joan is survived by her sisters-in-law, Virginia Ganske of Beaver Dam, Pearl (Calvin) Korth of Burnett, Ladean (Kenneth) Pollesch of Markesan and Mary Goodrich Winter of Beaver Dam. She is further survived by niece, Julie (David) Woodward of Columbus, nephews, Mike (Lisa) Ganske of North Oaks, MN and Craig (special friend Gena) Ganske of Beaver Dam. She will dearly be missed by grandnieces and grandnephews: Shelby, Hailey and Macy Woodward, Lauren, Rachel and Erica Ganske, Craig Jr. “CJ”, Carter and Kirsten Ganske and many family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Calvin “Kelly” Goodrich in 2004, her brother, Charles Ganske in 2017 and in-laws, Victor “Butch” Goodrich, Yvonne & Joe Novak and Alice & Merlin Christian.

A celebration of life for Joan will be held on Wednesday, July 25th at 11:30 a.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church in Beaver Dam with the Rev. Chris Davis officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service at 11:30 a.m. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Beaver Dam.

Memorials gifts may be given to Grace Presbyterian Church in Beaver Dam or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The family wishes to thank all the doctors, nurses and Generations Home Care and Hospice of Fond du Lac for the wonderful care they provided and thank family and friends for their prayers and visits.

The Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.koepsellfh.com.