JoAnn Ploetz

JoAnn Ploetz, age 81 passed away Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at her home. She was born in Kaukauna on August 1, 1928, daughter of the late Arthur and Elda (Lettau) Gatz. Following her graduation from Kaukauna High School, she worked at AAL (Thrivent Financial for Lutherans) and also taught Sunday School at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Kaukauna. It was there she met her future husband, Keith Ploetz. The couple married on August 19, 1950 at Trinity Lutheran in Kaukauna. They enjoyed nearly sixty years together. JoAnn and Keith were the best of friends and lived in Kaukauna until 1975 when they moved to Appleton.

JoAnn loved needlecrafts – she sewed, knitted, and crocheted may items for her children and grandchildren over the years.

Survivors include her husband: Keith Ploetz of Appleton; three children: John (Candy) Ploetz of Santa Maria, California; Thomas (Judy) Ploetz of Garden Valley, California; and Susan Buchinger-Ploetz of Appleton; five grandchildren: Cpt. Nicholas (Christa) Ploetz who is serving our country in Iraq; Ryan (Ashley) Ploetz of Austin, Texas; Claire Buchinger of Appleton; Tara Buchinger of Appleton; and Ashley Ploetz of Garden Valley, California; two great-grandsons: Ethan and Jason Ploetz of Hawaii; two brothers: David (Rita) Gatz of Kaukauna and William (Rebecca) Gatz of Clementon, New Jersey; a sister: Mary (William) Falk of Green Bay; a sister-in-law: Shirley (Ted) Campbell of Suwanee, Georgia; a brother-in-law: William (Lois) Ploetz of Colorado Springs, Colorado. There are also many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, a brother John, and her in-laws Eldore and LuWella Ploetz.

The Christian Funeral for JoAnn will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, March 1, 2010 at MOUNT OLIVE EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, 930 E. Florida Avenue in Appleton, with Rev. Benjamin Berger officiating. Interment will be in Highland Memorial Park. Friends may call directly at the church on Monday morning from 9:00 AM until the hour of the service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for Mount Olive Ev. Lutheran Church.

The family would like to offer their appreciation to the pastors from Mount Olive for their spiritual support, her physician – Dr. Dan Heyerdahl, and the entire medical staff at Appleton Medical Center, the caring nurses from ThedaCare at Home, especially Dana, her nurse. The kindness you have shown to our family will always be treasured.

Wichmann Funeral Home
537 N. Superior Street
Appleton, WI 54911
920-739-1231