Obit: Frese, Joan Alice (1936 - 2021)

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

Surnames: Frese, Rogalski, Langiewicz, Petranovich, Rodezno, Witherall, Peterson, Rode, Ramberg, Lato, Rixford, Harder, Sandhiyagu

----Source: Cuddie Funeral Home (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 11/15/2021

Frese, Joan Alice (12 September 1936 – 11 November 2021)

Joan A. Frese, 85, of Withee, passed away on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at Marshfield Medical Center, in Marshfield, surrounded by her loving family.

Joan Alice Langiewicz was born on September 12, 1936, in Stanley, the daughter of Alexander Sr. and Eva (Rogalski) Langiewicz. She was raised on the family farm and educated at Thorp area schools, graduating from Thorp High School in 1954. After high school, she moved to San Diego, CA and took care of her sister's children. Joan later worked in Minneapolis before moving back to Thorp where she worked at Stanley Corporation in Stanley. She was united in marriage to Roger H. "Frosty" Frese on December 10, 1966, at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Thorp. They resided in Thorp for a few years before buying a farm in the Town of Hixon. In addition to being a homemaker, Joan also worked as a custodian at Holy Rosary Catholic School, worked in the bakery at Owen IGA, and operated several cleaning businesses in Owen.

She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, where she was very involved in the PCCW, she was the secretary for the O-W Vets Club, and also was a member of the Coffee Creamers Club.

Joan had many interests, including bowling, where she coached bowling for a few years, pitching horseshoes, throwing darts, watching game shows, reading romance novels, going to the casino, jigsaw puzzles, scratch-off tickets, and especially her dog, Rusty, and her cat, Misty.

She is survived by her children: Diane Frese of Owen, Christina (Wayne) Petranovich of Thorp, Lori Rodezno of Thorp, Roger Jr. (Sharon) of Vanceboro, NC, Jolene (Justin) Witherall of Owen; 17 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 2 step grandchildren; 7 step great-grandchildren; one step great-great granddaughter; one sister: Audrey Peterson of Stanley; one brother-in-law: Russell Rode of Owen; and one sister-in-law: Virginia "Bunny" Langiewicz of Stanley; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roger, on November 15, 2020; one son, Jim, on April 17, 2010; 5 sisters: Dolores Ramberg, Leona Lato, Eve Rixford, Henrietta Harder and Clarice Rode; 4 brothers: Valentine, Alexander Jr., Richard and Adam Langiewicz.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, in Owen, WI, with Rev. Baskaran Sandhiyagu officiating. Visitation will be held at Thorp Funeral Home on Friday, November 19, 2021, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and again at the church, on Saturday, from 10 a.m. until time of service.