JoAnn F. Behnke

JoAnn Frances (Moede) Behnke, 86, of the Town of Union, Waupaca County, passed away peacefully Monday morning, Oct. 19, 2020. JoAnn was born Aug. 14, 1934, and grew up on her family’s farm in the Town of Richmond, Shawano County. She was the daughter of the late Ewald and Agnes (Schultz) Moede. JoAnn graduated from Shawano High School in 1952. She went to work as a teller at Citizen State Bank in Shawano. She then met her one true love, Kenneth Behnke. They were united in marriage on March 12, 1955, at the Trinity Lutheran parsonage in the Town of Bear Creek, Waupaca County. They enjoyed 60 beautiful years together. JoAnn continued her career at First State Bank, New London, until becoming a full-time mother, homemaker and dairy farmer’s wife. JoAnn and Ken resided on the Behnke homestead, where they operated a dairy farm until 1995. The couple loved to camp and enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, visiting national parks and other sites. For 20 years, JoAnn and Ken enjoyed soaking up the sun and visiting with friends while wintering in Edinburgh, Texas. JoAnn was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and a longtime member and, at one time, president of Trinity Ladies Aid. JoAnn believed in the right to vote and volunteered at the local polling agency. In addition to being a caring and supportive mother, JoAnn enjoyed crocheting, embroidering, reading, creating Hardanger afghans for all of her family members, listening to her favorite CDs, spending time baking with her granddaughters, cheering for her grandchildren at their football, baseball and lacrosse games, listening to their musical talents at choral and band concerts, shopping with Kathy and spending time with family. In recent years, JoAnn enjoyed riding along on the milk route with Jon, hosting backyard fish fries with Andy and watching movies and spending time with Russell. She especially enjoyed campfires and cookouts with all of her family at her favorite campground, The Hill. Survivors include children, Russell Behnke, Kathy (Tim) Krause, Jon Behnke and Andy Behnke (Lisa Wheelan); grandchildren Heather Behnke, Haley Behnke (Justin Cornelius), Michael (Gabby Goerlinger) Behnke and Trevor Krause; stepgrandchildren, Dan (Michelle) Krause, Mike, Tony and David Krause (Kelly Burnett); great-grandchild Hadley Cornelius; step-great-grandchildren, Peyton, Collin, Matthew and Madyson Krause; sisters, Sally (Roger) Piehl and Mary (Fran) Nellis; sisters-in-law, Myrtle Behnke and Jane Behnke; nephews, nieces and many friends. Along with her parents, JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband, Ken; brothers-in-law, Rueben and Eugene Behnke; and nephews, Kurtis and Willis Behnke. JoAnn’s funeral service will be held privately at Trinity Lutheran Church, Town of Bear Creek, with the Rev. Aric Fenske officiating. Interment will take place following the service at Graceland Cemetery, Clintonville. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be written to Trinity Lutheran Church or Ronald McDonald House. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Care Partners Assisted Living and to ThedaCare at Home hospice nurse Katie Krueger. We will always be grateful for their kind and compassionate care. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home and Crematory in Clintonville is assisting the Behnke family. An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.