Obit: Raebel, Joan (1932 - 2006)

Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Raebel, Wilke, Counsell, Emling, Anason

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, WI) April 19, 2006

Raebel, Joan M. (March 10, 1932 - April 17, 2006)

Joan Raebel, age 74, of Neillsville, died Monday, April 17, 2006 at the Palliative Care Unit of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield after a courageous battle with cancer.

Joan Marie Raebel was born on March 10, 1932, in Milwaukee, WI, the daughter of Marvin Jay and Helen (Wilke) Counsell. She attended and graduated from Pulaski High School in Milwaukee in 1950. Shortly after graduation she began working s a secretary in Milwaukee. On July 10, 1965 she was united in marriage to Richard E. Raebel in Milwaukee. They lived in the Milwaukee area, raising their family until 1969 when they moved to Neillsville and began raising veal calves. They retired in 1995, but Joan and her closest friend, Dorothy Counsell continued with their hobby of wallpapering and home decorating. Joan was a loving grandmother and her grandchildren were the focus of her life.

She is survived by her husband, Richard; three children, Jay Emling; and Kay (Larry) Anason, of Neillsville; and Dirk (Angie) Raebel, of Bay City, WI; eight grandchildren, Chad, Lucas, Alexis, Ryan (Jenny), Kayla, Jenny, Rebecca and Joey; one great-grandchild, Noah; two brothers, David (Helen) Counsell and Charles (Mary) Counsell, both of Neillsville; nieces and nephews and special dedicated friend, Dorothy Counsell.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m., Thursday at the Gesche Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Joan will be held at 8 p.m., Thursday, April 20, at the Gesche Funeral Home Neillsville, Wis. Pastor Douglas Bjerke will officiate. Music will be provided by the Attoe’s. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or the Palliative Care Unit of St. Joseph’s Hospital.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Joan’s family with funeral arrangements.