Obit: Bodamer, Joan E. #2 (1927 - 2018)

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

Surnames: Bodamer, Hogg, Brown, Evans, Gilchrist, Tibbetts

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/07/2018

Bodamer, Joan Elise (2 October 1927 – 1 March 2018)

Joan Elise Bodamer, 90, of Chippewa Falls, formerly of Thorp, passed away Thursday, March 1, 2018, at Chippewa Manor Nursing Home in Chippewa Falls.

Elise Brown was born Oct. 2, 1927, in Neillsville to Frank and Frances (Hogg) Brown. She was raised and received her education in the Neillsville area, where she graduated from Neillsville High School in 1945.

After completing high school, she attended Miss Woods Training School for Teachers of Young Chi8ldren, in Minneapolis, MN, from 1945 to 1947. She first taught school in Tomah, then went on to teach in Richland, WA and later in Great Falls, MT. While in Great Falls, Joan worked at Malmstrom Air Force Base in the U.S.O. It was there that she met her future husband, Robert L. Bodamer, and they were married June 6, 1952. After his discharge from the Air Force, they moved to Peoria, IL, Grand Forks, ND, and finally settled in Thorp in 1959. She taught school in Willard and then in Greenwood until retiring. They moved to a home on Lake Wissota, where she resided until her death.

Joan had many interests, but especially loved camping, quilting, teaching knitting, painting hand-blown eggs for Easter and traveling. She was also a member of the Eastern Star.

She will be sadly misses by four children: Philip (Tami) Bodamer of Gearhart, OR; Jennifer (Robert) Evans of Zephyr Cove, NV; Paul Bodamer of Thorp and Jessica (Dewey) Gilchrist of De Forest; five grandchildren: Nikki, Christopher, Stephanie, Chelsea and Trisha; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Marguerite Tibbetts of Eau Claire; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Robert; and one brother, Edward Brown.

There will be a time to gather and celebrate Joan’s life Saturday, March 10, 2018, at Thorp Funeral Home in Thorp, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association or a charity of your choice in our Joan’s name.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.  Thorp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.