Joan “Jo” Delores Stephen, age 90, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Friday, October 20, 2023, at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, WI. She was born on November 12, 1932, to Truman and Johanna (Ellefson) Hanson in Viroqua, WI. Joan’s early school years were spent in a one room schoolhouse in Viroqua with her brother Ervin and other kids on “The Ridge” until graduating in 1950 from Viroqua High School. Joan worked for Dr. Ender as a receptionist and assistant.

Joan married John E. Stephen on January 21, 1955, in Lincoln, NB where John was stationed in the Air Force. Joan and John spent several years traveling to several Midwest States while John worked for W.T. Grants, finally stopping, and staying in Madison, WI. Joan started working at Meriter Hospital, where she found her career path as a CNA on 3 North- Rehabilitation. She loved the people she worked with and the challenges of caring for people who were handicapped by strokes, paraplegia, and quadriplegia. Joan was excellent at it, touched many patients and their families lives over the 25 years she worked there. Joan retired when John had a stroke, she then went on to care for him with all the things she had learned.

Joan and John went on to serve at the meal sites and Food Pantries in Madison. It was a important job for them, “To serve others.” In retirement they also traveled with their siblings and their spouses to various places in the U.S. where there were many card games, much fun, memories and always lots of laughter.

Joan was an avid rose and hosta grower, and award-winning “Queen of the Show” at the Olbrich Gardens/ Rose Society show. Joan enjoyed being a mother to her children and loved being a grandmother too. She loved nothing more than to talk, spending many hours on the phone with her children, grandchildren, and her friends. Joan adored family get togethers, was a good cook but her claim to fame was her chocolate chip cookies.

Joan lost the love of her life and her best friend when John died on September 3, 2008. She continued to live in her home until she broke a hip and had to move to an assisted living home, where the sign of dementia began to unfold. Joan moved to Agrace Hospice where she would prove everyone wrong and live there for 24 months. The staff loved her and enjoyed caring for her even when she lost her voice.

The family would like to express their gratitude and love towards her caretakers at Agrace.

Joan is survived by her children, Richard (Sue), Cindy (Dwight) Ott, Mary (Loren) Schultz, Lori (Delbert) Yoder; grandchildren Derek, Brandon, Andy, Becky, Josh, Anita, and Cristian Lepak

Joan is preceded in death by her brother Ervin in 1986; her father, Truman in 1989; her mother, Johanna in 2001 and a grandson Scott Yoder in 2002, and daughter-in-law, Mary Stephen in 2012.

A Funeral Service will be held at 12:00 PM on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Ryan Funeral Home, 2418 N. Sherman Ave, Madison. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Interment will take place at Oregon Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Agrace Hospice Care, so another family might have the honor to die there with compassion and respect.

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

2418 N Sherman Ave

608-249-8257

Joan Stephen

November 12, 1932 - October 20, 2023

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