- JoAnn Ploetz, Appleton, 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 many items for her children and grandchildren over the years.
Survivors include her husband: Keith Ploetz, Appleton; three children: John (Candy) Ploetz, Santa Maria, California; Thomas (Judy) Ploetz, Garden Valley, California; and Susan Buchinger-Ploetz, Appleton; five grandchildren: Cpt. Nicholas (Christa) Ploetz, who is serving our country in Iraq; Ryan (Ashley) Ploetz, Austin, Texas; Claire Buchinger, Appleton; Tara Buchinger, Appleton; and Ashley Ploetz, Garden Valley, California; two great-grandsons: Ethan and Jason Ploetz of Hawaii; two brothers: David (Rita) Gatz, Kaukauna; William (Rebecca) Gatz, Clementon, New Jersey; a sister, Mary (William) Falk, Green Bay; a sister-in-law, Shirley (Ted) Campbell, Suwanee, Georgia; a brother-in-law, William (Lois) Ploetz, 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 a.m. 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 a.m. 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
JoAnn Gatz 8/1/1928 2/24/2010 Post Crescent 2/26/2010 B 5
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1928 - 2010 (81 years)
Education - High School
