Mrs. Ann Marie Joehnk (nee: Mortenson)

Joehnk, Ann Marie (nee. Mortenson), age 100, of Waterford, entered Eternal Life in peace on Sunday, July 7, 2019. Ann was born on January 29, 1919 to immigrant parents who came to America from Forsa, Sweden. They settled in Iron River, Wisconsin and Ann spent her early years there. Ann was always an adventurous spirit. At the age of fifteen, she was sent to Helena, Montana to care for an aunt who was dying of cancer. Sadly, her aunt passed away before Ann arrived. Ann decided to stay in Helena and attend high school. Upon graduation, she worked in Chicago for several prominent families including the P. K. Wrigley family. She was a graduate of St. Luke School of Nursing in Chicago. As her graduation date approached, America was entering WW II. Ann quickly enlisted in the U. S. Army as a nurse and became part of our country’s D-Day effort. She began in England, crossed the English Channel, and initially manned primitive field hospitals. She then spent the remainder of the European war in Paris. It was there that she celebrated V-E Day, ending as a First Lieutenant. Following the end of the war, she came to Milwaukee and re-established a pre-war relationship with her future husband, Bob Joehnk. They married in September, 1946. Ann continued to work as a registered nurse in Milwaukee. In 1954, Bob and Ann moved with their family to Waterford, WI and spent many happy years there. In addition to a long career in nursing at Burlington Memorial Hospital, Ann was actively involved in the community, her church and her children’s activities. After retiring from nursing, Ann and Bob continued to actively volunteer with Meals on Wheels and regularly took Waterford residents to health care appointments. Because of her nursing skills, Ann was often sought to provide respite care to families with serious medical needs. At the end of her life, Ann was honored to be the oldest member of the Community Methodist Church in Waterford.
Ann is survived by her five grateful children: Edward John (Margory), Thomas Allan (Kristeen), Elizabeth, Robert Donald, Jr. (fiancé Sue), and James Richard (Wendy). She is also survived by grandchildren: Matthew (Susanne), Peter (Gina), David (Marisa), Lisa Neilsen (Bryan), Steven (Margaret), Benjamin (Hanna), Katie, Brittany, Braxton, and Robert D. III and 12 great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her brother, Richard (Jackie), many nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband and best friend, Robert D. Joehnk, her beloved grandson, Christopher Joehnk, her treasured parents, Peter and Brita Mortenson, and eight out of her nine adored siblings. A special thank you to the aids and staff of The Dolphin House for the excellent love and care given to our Mother.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2019 from 9-10:45 AM, with services beginning at 11:00 AM at Community United Methodist Church, 455 S. Jefferson Street, Waterford, WI 53185. Burial at Oakwood Cemetery in Waterford following the service. A light lunch will be served after burial in church. In lieu of floral expressions of sympathy, memorials are suggested to Community United Methodist Church.
Mealy Funeral Home
Waterford, Wisconsin
262-534-2233
www.mealyfuneralhome.com