Joanne M. Baehman

Joanne Margaret Baehman, 91, a resident of Wausau for 68 years, died peacefully on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at Golden Years of Lake Geneva. Joanne was born October 1, 1934, in Augusta, WI, to Ben and Josephine Johnson.

After high school and Eau Claire Technical School, she moved to Milwaukee where she met and married Gerald (Jerry) Baehman on February 15, 1958. Upon moving to Wausau that year, the couple opened Baehman’s Beauty Salon and State College of Beauty, and Joanne met strangers in the Newcomers Club who became lifelong friends. With a passion for community service, her advice to anyone feeling down was to ‘get out and do something for someone and soon you won’t have any troubles.’ A long-time volunteer at The Woodson Art Museum, she carried a folder of notes to share local recommendations with visitors, promoting all that Wausau had to offer. She was active in Antique Study Club, Good Earth Garden Club, Friends of the Library, Genealogical Society, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and many other organizations. Joanne loved homemaking, reading, journaling, history, gardening, thrifting, socializing, basket weaving, and spending time with her three grandchildren. The common thread of her interests was the intentionality she brought to every endeavor. She believed in the art of letter writing, scripting notes every Monday morning at her dining table to friends and family (Joanne famously refused to put outgoing mail in her mailbox, instead driving it to the post office until age 90, so as not to burden the mail carrier - “they already have so much to do!”).

Joanne is survived by two sons, Jack (Stacy) and John (Jeannie); grandchildren, Kent (Amber), Kate, and Claire (Chris) Devore; two great-grandchildren, and beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by husband, Jerry; seven brothers and sisters; and daughter-in-law, Ciri.

The family thanks Dr. Krista Scharer, Primrose Retirement Community, Golden Years of Lake Geneva, and Badger Hospice for their loving care.

Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau, is handling arrangements for a private memorial service.