Joan Marie Schnettler

Joan Marie Schnettler, 95, of Appleton Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2023, at Touchmark on West Prospect Avenue in Appleton, WI after a lengthy struggle with congestive heart failure.

She was the second child born on February 11, 1928, to Frank and Esther (Ries) Bersch in Sheboygan, WI.  After graduating from St. Dominic Elementary and Sheboygan North High School, Joan worked at H.C. Prange for a few years helping to provide for her siblings before marrying.

Joan married the love of her life, her long-time neighbor and frequent high school date, Jerome Schnettler on August 21, 1948, at St. Dominic Church in Sheboygan.  The happy couple immediately moved to Milwaukee so Jerry could complete his Electrical Engineering Degree at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Joan was a very strong-willed person and a devoted mother.  She gave her children guidance, discipline, and strength.  Her exceptional work ethic was on full display daily to her children throughout their childhood.  This instilled and reaffirmed her expected level of effort by her sons for achievements in academics and their careers later in life. She raised her 4 boys in many different homes in Milwaukee that she and Jerry designed, built and finished themselves as their family continued to grow.  Joan and Jerry’s individual strengths truly complimented each other as they were a tremendously successful team, not only in life, but also on the golf course or at the bridge table.

Joan secured her one and only hole-in-one on #16 at Loblolly Pines Country Club in Hobe Sound, Florida during the 1990’s.  One year later, Jerry recorded his third hole-in-one of his lifetime on the very same hole.  Joan will always be remembered for her fiercely independent nature, along with her passion for card games, crossword puzzles, bingo, reading and brain busters.

Joan is survived by children: William (Patti) and Kurt (K’Ann); daughter in law Cheryl and former daughter in law Mary (Tom Hinds) Schnettler; grandchildren Mya (Stewart) Sapien, Ty, Moriah Lindsley, Jaimie, Jennifer, Stephanie (Michael) Mullen, Elizabeth, Melissa (Evan) Johnson, Nicholas (Colleen), Shane (Jennifer), Allison (Brendan) Marley, John, and Maggie along with her treasured 13 great grandchildren.  She is further survived by siblings Esther (Robert) Vadnais and Frances Bigari; sisters-in-laws Mary Bersch and Catherine Reichert and many other relatives and friends.

Joan has been reunited with loved ones who pre-deceased her:  parents Frank and Esther; husband Jerry; sons Daniel and Hans; grandson Frederick; siblings Charles, Fredrick, Mary Belle, Dennis, John and a host of other Bersch and Schnettler relatives and friends.

The family would also like to thank the devoted staff from the Touchmark Pembrook Neighborhood for their kind and compassionate care, specifically Morgan, Shasi, Pam, Shirley, and numerous other caregivers.  Visitation will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Appleton on Saturday, June 10^th at 11am, followed by mass at noon.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association.