Joyce Ann Mary Kreft

Joyce Ann Kreft

December 20, 1941 - February 26, 2023

Joyce Ann Kreft of Athens, WI, left this world so very peacefully on Sunday afternoon, February 26, 2023, at age 81 with nieces and nephews by her side at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Joyce Ann was born December 20, 1941, at her family’s farmhouse near Athens in the Town of Bern, the daughter of Cyril and Catherine (Schmidt) Kreft. She was the youngest child in a family of five children, arriving as a welcome surprise to her much older siblings.

Joyce Ann attended St. Anthony Grade School. She graduated from Athens High School in 1959.

Immediately following graduation, she left for Lincolnwood, IL (suburb of Chicago) where she would live and work with the family of Dave and Pat Biasco until her retirement in 2015. “Joyce” was the loving and caring Mother’s Helper for a family of ten children, continuing to live with Mr. and Mrs. Biasco as empty nesters in Glenview, IL, and doting “Joycie” to their grandchildren. She was blessed to enjoy and love them as a dear and cherished second family as they did her.

Joyce Ann returned for a vacation in Athens, annually, in September to visit her family and the growing generations of nieces and nephews. Through the years many family members and Biasco family members received a beautifully detailed, hand stitched Christmas stocking or tree skirt or another keepsake. Yes, she loved sequins on these gifts of handiwork! Her creative talent showed itself in these lovingly made gifts.

For decades, she wrote weekly letters to her mother and received weekly letters in return with a copy of the local Athens newspaper. She was an avid sender of birthday and holiday cards to her relatives, the Biasco family, and others. Frequently, the envelopes were filled with mini sequins or tiny, glittery confetti surprises inside, and, always, stickers on the outside.

She enjoyed reading; cooking; baking; following current events and various professional sports (Bears, Packers, Cubs); listening to Chicago radio; and in recent years, long phone calls. Also, not to be missed, she watched her favorite afternoon TV “stories” (soap operas).

Upon retirement in 2015, Joyce Ann happily returned to Athens and enjoyed living at the Plisch Street senior apartments until her recent illness.

Joyce Ann is survived by 16 nieces and nephews: Duane (Deb) Kreft, Marathon, WI; Barbara Kreft, Merrill, WI; Gail (Larry) Kretschmer, Athens, WI; Clarice (Greg) Pelkey, Berlin, CT; Julene M. Romoren, Chicago, IL; Doris (Gary) McGinley, St. Peters, MO; Mary Helen Mroczenski, Waukesha, WI; Ronald Mroczenski, Greenfield, WI; Robert (Mickie) Mroczenski, New Berlin, WI; Roger (Peggy Krusick) Mroczenski, Milwaukee, WI; Dan (Mary) Mroczenski, Lakewood Ranch, FL; Elaine (Ken) Marciniak, Branson, MO; Rhonda (Dan) Thompson, Stratford, WI; Claude (Sue) Kreft, Athens, WI;  Glen (Florence) Kreft, Marathon, WI; Gary (Sharon) Kreft, Marathon, WI; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. Joyce Ann is survived by former sister-in-law, Sally Whaples of Athens. Joyce is survived by the Biasco children: Linda, Sandy, Sharon, Chris, David, Mark, John, Paul, Mary, and Peter; and their 34 children.

Joyce Ann is predeceased by her parents, Cyril and Catherine Kreft; brothers and sister-in-law Donald (Theresa), and Jerome Kreft of Athens; her sisters and brothers-in-law Rita (Stanley) Waluk of New Britain, CT, and Vivian (Alex) Mroczenski of Abbotsford, WI, and niece Charlene (Orlando) Kreft Schmitt of Wausau, WI.

Special appreciation and gratitude are extended to the medical staff who cared for her at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, and the Athens Ambulance team.

Funeral Mass will be Monday, March 6, 2023 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Athens at 12:00 PM. Rev. George Graham will preside. Visitation at St. Anthony Catholic Church will be Monday from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Athens.  The funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the Peterson/Kraemer facebook page.

Memorials can be made to St. Anthony Catholic Church in Athens, WI.