Joan F. Finzel

Our Dad’s Sweet Girl, the love of his life. Our Momma, our hand and heart to hold. Our Nana, our biggest cheerleader. Her frame was tiny, but her strength was huge. She made the best pies, could crack and eat crab legs like a boss, and she was the only person who could pull off a turtleneck sweater in 99-degree heat! Her grandkids were going to be famous, just ask her and Tootsie Rolls and Betty Jane candy should’ve been a food group. Dwight Yokum was her king of rock and roll, George Jones a close second and Silent Night was her absolute favorite Christmas carol. It didn’t matter if she didn’t bring you into this world, she’d love you and provide for you as much as you needed without judgement. She didn’t have a special degree but mastered some jobs in life with so much success and worked hard to give her kids everything they ever wanted. She was the best and most successful grocery store clerk, best and most successful cook at the Inn Between, best and most successful Country Pride Inn hotel employee, best and most successful Levee Restaurant employee, thee best and most successful Levee Restaurant owner, the best and most successful Clark’s Speedway employee and let’s not forget about her pies! She saved tips for days to provide the extra special amenities her kids and grandkids dreamed of for special events in their life and was known for 50 single $1.00 bills with the serial number beginning with F for every birthday for her kids, grandkids and great grandkids. She was born to Eugene and Marie Broesch on December 30th,1942 in Portage. She met Bob in Portage on one of his layover trips while he worked on the railroad, and they married on June 27, 1969. They settled in Wales where Joan ran an in-home daycare and in true Joan fashion, loved her daycare kids as her own. She served as the lead of the Jr Laser Football Booster club, she was the Jr Laser Cheerleading Advisor and continued to follow, encourage and cheer her kids and their friends on throughout their high school years. She was the master of ceremonies for the high school kids year after year by providing the “fun and cool” house to hang out at. In 1999, on a Thursday afternoon in late July, the first of 5 brain aneurysms rocked Joan’s world but not enough to stop her fierce fight. Two more aneurysms later that year and countless hours of unending love and support, the Finzel Family persevered with Joan in the captain’s seat. Two more brain aneurysms in 2010, one of which kept her from being physically present for the birth of a grandchild, the very first and the last time she missed a grandchild being brought into this world., Joan started to slow down but still was front row for her grandkids. In May 2022 a stroke reignited a fire in Joan, she refused to miss an upcoming high school graduation for her grandson. She was released from a rehab hospital late on a Thursday afternoon and just 14 hours later stood front row and witnessed that grandson cross the stage. At a Dr appointment for Joan on Monday September 19th, her daughter Robin, who cared for Joan, was given a devastating diagnosis. Lung cancer had taken hold. It was decided the kids would come together over family dinner and family love to tell both Bob and Joan of another health challenge to battle. She left this life on earth the following day, Tuesday September 20th at home. Missing her and honoring her every day until we are reunited is Bob, her husband, the love of her life. Three daughters, Robin Bublitz who lived with and cared for Joan, her children Trisha, her husband Ben and their son Carter Magargee and Cody Simonson, along with their dad, Jim Simonson. Bobbi-Jo and her husband Chris and their boys Nick and Brady Scaffidi and Jodi and her husband Matt along with their boys Gunnar and Cooper Roberts. Two son’s, Kevin Finzel Sr, his children Kenny and Kevin Finzel Jr, his son Kaeden and Jon Finzel. Her sister Diane Stenson, brother Geno Broesch, and Aunt Verona. In laws Nancy Finzel, Christine Breitsprecker, Monica and Steve Lukritz, Joe and Anita Bruckner, Jill and Duey Deutmeyer, Ron and Julie Schlader and Michelle Finzel. Many nieces and nephews from both sides and many cousins. Some very dear friends, and so many others who became family to Joan There to greet her, running to her with arms wide open was her dearest granddaughter Mandi-Jo., Robin's daughter. She was also met at the gates by her parents Eugene and Marie, her mother and father-in-law Carl Sr and Gertrude, her sister Cookie, her brother Ronnie, daughter-in-law Kelly, brothers in law Don and Carl Jr, sisters in law, Joanie, Sally and Barbara, and the outlaws, Bill, Jack, Lyle, and Henry. Friends and family are invited to come together at Kratz Funeral Home, 302 E Conant Street in Portage on Friday September 30 beginning at noon. At 3pm a casual service will close out our gathering at the funeral home but will be followed with a luncheon and gathering at the VFW on Collins Road in Portage. We want to thank Dr. Daniel Resnick and the UW Neuro Team that performed miracles in 1999, giving Bob and the kids the time to create such beautiful memories all those years, their daughter Robin for taking over care in the home and being there round the clock for the last year and everyone else who was fond of her. Our mom felt very special when she talked about her friends, and if you knew her, you became one in an instant. Momma, we hope you liked this write up, we wanted to share your story and capture some of our favorite things about you. We are going to miss you every second of every day and it devastates us all that we have to learn to live without you but deep down we know you earned this step to paradise. You gave so much, in high doses and never quit. How lucky we all were to love you and how lucky they all are in heaven to have you now. We love you so much “sweet girl” our momma, our Nana.

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