Robert E. Joanis, age 90, of La Crosse, Wisconsin died Monday, January 15, 2007, at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse. He was born on September 14, 1916, in Hopewell, Virginia, the son of Edmund and Emma (Westen) Joanis. At the time of his birth his father, Edmund, was in Virginia teaching crews how to make explosives for World War I. Their family returned to their home in Washburn, Wisconsin at the end of World War I when Robert was approximately two years old. \r\nRobert graduated from high school in Washburn, Wisconsin in 1934, and then moved to Madison where he worked his way through law school. He joined R.O.T.C. at the end of his freshman year. The $21 per month that he received during his last two years in R.O.T.C. was the equivalent of a private's pay in the Army. During his last two years of law school, Robert was a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserve. \r\nRobert met his wife, Gladys Splinter, in 1934 while both were working at Woolworth's in Madison. He courted her for five years, and they married after his graduation. They were married for 57 years.\r\nIn the spring of 1940, Robert went to work for Hardware Mutual Insurance Company (now known as Sentry Insurance). After training, he was assigned to work in La Crosse, Wisconsin as a claim's adjuster. After the attack of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, Robert was called to active duty in February of 1942. Despite the fact that he was an attorney and wanted to work for the Judge Advocate General, he was sent to tank mechanic's school at Fort Knox. He was told by the assigned colonel that, "while lawyers were easy to come by, it was difficult to find officers with mechanical aptitude".\r\nRobert served as a captain in the 745h Tank Battalion-1st U.S. Infantry Division from February 4, 1942 to February 2, 1946. His unit landed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Robert had been wounded on D-Day and was on the first airplane to bring wounded to the hospitals in England. After he was loaded on the plane, he met General Eisenhower. He fought in the forests, the Battle of the Bulge, and crossed the Rhine River to enter Germany at Remagen. His military units were heading down the road to Berlin when the war ended in 1945. Included among his lists of awards were the Silver Star and Purple Heart.\r\nAt war's end, Robert and Gladys moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin where he began practicing law with George Ruediger, who was then the judge in Police Court. Over time, Police Court became known as Municipal Court. It was fitting that Robert ended his legal career as La Crosse's municipal judge. He was elected to the municipal bench in May 1, 1986, and served until April 3, 1992, when he retired. He was much loved by the Municipal Court staff and respected and admired by the Police Department with whom he worked closely. He believed in the importance of the Municipal Court since it was there that a great number of people had their only contact with the court system. Therefore, Robert believed that the individuals who came to municipal court should feel that they were treated fairly and that justice was served in a humane way. \r\nSurvivors include his three children of whom he was very proud: Thomas R. (June) Joanis of Oshkosh, WI, David (Suzanne) Joanis of Madison, WI, and Patricia (Mark) Thompson of Cuba City, WI; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Joanis, Matthew Joanis, Luke Joanis, Jennifer (Jake) Bliefernict, Casey (Joy) Thompson, Matthew Thompson, and Bradley (Katie) Thompson. Also surviving are his two brothers Kenneth (Ruth) Joanis, of Kenosha, WI and William (Helen) Joanis of Ottertail, MN.\r\nPreceding him in death was his soul-mate and love of his life, his wife, Gladys (Splinter) Joanis on August 6, 1997. He was also preceded in death by his two brothers John Joanis of Stevens Point, WI, and George Joanis of St. Louis, MO. \r\nMass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2007, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse with Father Lawrence Berger celebrating the Mass. Entombment with Military Rites conducted by VFW Post #1530 will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, La Crosse. Visitation will be held Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Blaschke-Schneider Funeral Home in La Crosse and one hour prior to Mass Saturday at church.\r\nRobert's family would like to extend a special word of thanks to the staff at Bethany St. Joseph for their wonderful care.\r\nIn lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be directed in Robert's name to VFW Post# 1530, 630 6th St., La Crosse, WI 54601.\r\nFuneral arrangements are being handled by Matthew Thompson&Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home of Eau Claire.

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