Joanne M. (Ludwig/Brandner) Emmerich, 92, of Medford, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 24th at Aspirus Care and Rehab under the care of Hope Hospice.

 

A Mass of Christian Burial for Joanne will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 11th at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford with Fr. Patrick McConnell officiating.  Burial will follow at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. at the church.

 

Joanne was born on October 6, 1933, at home in the town of Little Black to Ferdinand (Fred) and Margaret (Hurth) Ludwig. She was the third of twelve children. She attended Liberty School in Little Black and graduated in 1951 from Dorchester High School. Joanne married Melvin J. Brandner in Dorchester on September 5, 1951. They resided in the City of Medford their entire married life. Melvin preceded her in death on June 1, 1994. On September 24, 1999, Joanne married Earl L. Emmerich, a lifelong family friend. In 2001 Joanne and Earl moved to the Willow Lake property and lived there until May 2022, spending much of their time fishing. Earl preceded her in death on August 16, 2022.

 

Joanne moved back to Medford in August of 2022 reconnecting with many former co-workers and friends. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at Pier-Willow, the Medford Curling Club and Medford’s BPW.

 

Joanne was honored at the annual Taylor County Volunteer Recognition Banquet in 1997 for the many hours spent volunteering with the Taylor County Women’s Alliance and the Wisconsin Women’s Cancer Control Program. She also spent numerous hours volunteering with the religious education program at Holy Rosary Parish and distributing communion to the nursing home. Since the early 70’s, Joanne and Melvin loved spending their weekends during the summer at Wil-O-Acres, on Willow Lake. During the winter months they enjoyed curling, participating in many bonspiels across the state. They were very active members of the Medford Curling Club, where Joanne became the first female president. Joanne was also an avid sports fan. You could always find her watching and cheering on the Brewers, Packers, Bucks and Badgers.

 

In her earlier years, Joanne worked at Heimerl’s Department Store which later became Hoffman’s Ben Franklin. She then worked for Time Federal Savings and Loan and later the State Bank of Medford/Mid-Wisconsin Bank, retiring from the bank in February 1994. After her retirement and the death of Melvin, Joanne worked for several years at Uncommon Ground, for her nephew and niece, Jeff & Barb Ludwig.

 

Joanne is survived by her four children, Greg (Anita) Brandner of Victoria, MN, Pat (the late Barb) Brandner of Eau Claire, Randy (Joan) Brandner of Merrill; and Kathy (Steve) Strebig of Medford; nine grandchildren, Kristin (Brian) Witte, Joanna (Nathan) Steinbauer, David Brandner, Stephanie (Mac) Devitt, Erik (Tiffany) Brandner, Jason (Kalei) Brandner, Matthew Brandner, Robbie Strebig and Ryan (Megan) Strebig, 12 great-grandchildren, Carson, Evan, Kaitlin, Owen, Flannery, Mallory, Kelley, Eloise, Collette, Esmé, Lincoln, Milina, Lake, Huxley and Hawkens; siblings, Norma Meier, Marlene Hermans, Loretta Kranz, Dale (Kay) Ludwig, Sandy (Dave) Bruesewitz and Robert (Nancy) Ludwig; in-laws, Helen Ludwig, Roberta “Tuts” Ludwig, Mary Jane Ludwig, Connie Ludwig, Mary Lou Brandner, Lucille Brandner, Darrell (Nancy) Brandner, Mary Schumacher and Monica (Tom) Danen. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces & nephews and friends.

She is further survived by Earl’s family: in-laws Glen (Eileen) Emmerich, Roger (Sue) Emmerich, Virginia Emmerich, and Rita Emmerich. Stepchildren, Sharon (Bruce) Wells, Starla (Brad) Ruesch, Danny (Peggy) Emmerich, Gayle (Bill) Thums, Elaine Emmerich, Rusty (Barb) Emmerich, DiAnn (Tom) Rindt, Connie (John) Hemmer, Randy (Tammy) Emmerich, Brian Emmerich, and Terry (Tammy Erl) Emmerich.

 

In addition to her parents (Fred & Margaret Ludwig), her first husband (Melvin Brandner), second husband (Earl Emmerich), Joanne was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law Barb Brandner, siblings: Jerome Ludwig, Merlin Ludwig, Glendon Ludwig, Duane “Duke” Ludwig, Germaine Imler, in-laws: Dora Ludwig, Alfred Meier, Darrel Hermans, Patrick Kranz, Richard Seidel, Robert Imler, Norbert Brandner, Bernard & Beulah Brandner, Leon Brandner, Norbert Schumacher, Vernon Emmerich, Kenneth Emmerich, Lorraine Clarke and step-son Wally Emmerich.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Joanne’s name may be given to Holy Rosary Catholic School, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at Pier-Willow, or St. Mary’s Catholic School in Tomahawk.