Obit: Raebel, Joan Marie #3 (1932 - 2006)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Raebel, Wilke, Counsell, Bjerke, Anason, Emling

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) April 19, 2006

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

Joan Raebel

NEILLSVILLE -- Joan Raebel, age 74, of Neillsville, died Monday, April 17, 2006, at the Palliative Care Unit of Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield following a courageous battle with cancer.

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

Funeral services for Joan will immediately follow the visitation at 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The Rev. Douglas Bjerke will officiate. Music will be provided by the Attoes. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery.

Joan Marie Raebel was born on March 10, 1932, in Milwaukee, 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 as 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; 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.

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