JoAnne Wagenknecht, 84, of Eau Claire, passed away on Friday, October 20, 2017, at Rutledge Home in Chippewa Falls, of a long illness. Born in Eau Claire, WI, in 1933, the daughter of Oscar and Frances (Weber) Hangartner. JoAnne married John K. Wagenknecht in 1958 after meeting him in Long Beach, California, where John was stationed in the Navy. She moved to Toledo, Ohio, after they married in Eau Claire, where John's family business, The Star - Elling Rug Cleaning Company was located. As a child, JoAnne loved to ice skate at the pond at Half-moon Lake. She was a wonderful mother and housewife, known for her fabulous cooking and baking skills. She spent summers at Devil's Lake in Irish Hills, Michigan with her children and John's family for many years. She even learned to drive a speed boat and fish. At home in Toledo, she kept an impeccable rose garden and yard, as well as a large vegetable garden. She maintained the swimming pool for the family and supported her children's and grandchildren's activities, as well as her husband's coaching of youth. She was the "unpaid" secretary of John's Floor Covering as well. She was a long-time member of St. Catherine's Church in Toledo, and joined St. Olaf when she retired to Eau Claire in 2005 to be near her family. JoAnne is survived by her daughter, Mary (Mark) Wagner of Toledo, OH; son, Jack Wagenknecht of Eau Claire, WI; grandchildren, Joshua (Molly) Wagenknecht of Springfield, OH, and Jacob Wagenknecht of Eau Claire, WI. She is also survived by 2 siblings, Marge O'Brien and Phil (Betty) Hangartner, both of Eau Claire, WI; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. JoAnne was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, John, in 2014; parents; and a brother, Kenneth; brother-in-law, John; and infant daughter, Joan. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, at St. Olaf Catholic Church, 3220 Monroe St, Eau Claire, WI, with Father Amir officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery. The family thanks the Rutledge Home in Chippewa Falls, WI, for the wonderful care that she received. Many thanks as well go to St. Joseph's Hospice. Any gifts in JoAnne's memory can be directed to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD), Radnor Station Building 2, Suite 320, 290 Kind of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA 19087; St. Olaf Catholic Church in Eau Claire or St. Catherine's Church in Toledo, OH. To express condolences online, please visit obituaries at www.lenmarkfh.com

Service Information

Cemetery

Lakeview Cemetery 1500 Buffington Drive Eau Claire WI 54703

Visitation

Tuesday, October 24 2017 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

St. Olaf Catholic Church 3220 Monroe St Eau Claire WI 54703

Mass of Christian Burial

Tuesday, October 24 2017 11:00 AM

St. Olaf Catholic Church 3220 Monroe St Eau Claire WI 54703