Joan A. Draeb, 93, of Sturgeon Bay, passed away Friday afternoon, May 31, 2019 at Door County Medical Center.
Joan Elizabeth was born to Otis and Clara (Kvasse) Aamodt January 16, 1926 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the third of their four daughters.
She graduated from River Falls High School and continued her education from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls. Joan graduated from West Suburban Hospital School of Nursing in Oak Park, Illinois.
On October 25, 1947, she married J. William Draeb in Oak Park, Illinois. They first met while at the Pine Resort in Idlewild where Joan was employed during the summer months. Together they operated Draeb Jewelers in Sturgeon Bay. They had three children, Karen Marie, Elizabeth Lydia and George William.
She worked at Door County Memorial Hospital in extended care for many years before taking a job at Bay Ship in their medical department. Joan was an avid knitter and weaver and she enjoyed playing bridge.
Joan was a member of Bay View Lutheran Church.
She is survived by her two children, Betsy (Mike) Kelly of Plainwell, MI and George (Joan) Draeb of Sturgeon Bay; seven grandchildren, Kathryn (Terrance) Stafford, Elizabeth (Jeremy) Albrecht, John (Kelly M.) Kelly, Erik Hays, Cheryl (David) Ehlers, Brian (Samantha) Kelly, and Bill (Rose Teskie) Draeb; and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Virginia Hecht of Denver; and many nieces and nephew.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Otis and Clara Aamodt; husband, Bill; daughter, Karen Hays; and sisters, Agnes Aamodt and Karen Aamodt.
Her life will be honored with a funeral service held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at Bay View Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay. Burial will follow in Bayside Cemetery.
Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Joan’s name to Bay View Lutheran Church or the Peninsula Symphonic Band.
Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay is assisting the Draeb family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Joan may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.
