Bio: Hubing, Joan - Retires After 52 Years (2022)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hubing, Rottjer, Bertz, Zickert, Marden

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/23/2022

Hubing Retires After 52 Years of Joan’s Hair Hut (2022)

By Valorie Brecht

Joan Hubing has retired after a decades-long career of helping people look their best.

Hubing served as the longtime owner and operator of Joan’s hair Hut in Neillsville. She grew up on a farm south of Loyal. Becoming a beautician wasn’t her initial career choice.

“When I was young, I was thinking about being a nurse, so my mom took me to the hospital to check into the program and we found out there was a three-year waiting period,” said Hubing. “My dad said I could work on the farm for three years, but I didn’t want to farm, so I decided to go to beauty school.”

Hubing graduated from high school in 1963 and attended the Eau Claire Accredited School of Beauty Culture for one year. She then worked for Emma Rottjer’s beauty shop in Loyal for a year. Then she went to Neillsville and worked for Mary Ellen Bertz’s Lady Fair hair salon for several years. Eventually, she took over the salon from Bertz and ran it for 52 years as Joan’s Hair Hut.

When Hubing started there the salon was in a building on Sixth Street next to the Laundromat, which has since been torn down. The salon later moved into the building at 440 West. It was a four-chair salon although usually there were two to three stylists there at any given time.

“The last few years, it was me and a co-worker who would come in two days a week,” Hubing said.

The salon was open Tuesday through Saturday and had a steady stream of customers. Hubing did all types of haircuts. She also offered electrolysis, a type of hair removal to customers.

“Years ago, we had a lot more standing customers. So Thursday and Friday every week would be the appointments for people who came in every week. Lately, there weren’t as many, but we still had regulars that would come every Friday,” said Hubing.

Hubing said she served mostly an older clientele, but a few children also.

She had no hesitation when asked what her favorite part of the job was.

“I enjoyed the people more than anything, just getting to know people,” she said.

In early January, Hubing had a stroke and could not continue working. She decided to retire. Hubing’s co-worker Joan Zickert also decided she didn’t want to continue with the two days per week. So, the shop was closed effective Feb. 5.

“I’ve gotten a lot of cards and phone calls from people saying they missed me, so it makes you feel good,” said Hubing.

She extended appreciation to all of her customers over the years and to her sister Sharon, Zickert and Jana Marden for taking care of the bills and bookwork for the salon last month.