Joanne Elizabeth Oetken, 90, of Burlington, died Thursday, November 3, 2022, at the Bickford Cottage in Burlington, surrounded by her family and loving caregivers.
Born April 2, 1932, in Burlington, she was the daughter of Charles B. and Marie Hauber Doebele. On February 13, 1955, she married Alfred Ralph Oetken in Burlington. They remained happily together until his passing on April 19, 2013.
She graduated Burlington High School in 1949.
Joanne held a variety of jobs over the years, including a telephone operator, travel agent, and medical assistant.
She was a member of the Zion United Church of Christ, The Red Hat Ladies, and a former president of the Central Council and Girl Scouts leader. She enjoyed cooking and canning the harvest from her husband's garden. Joanne was an expert pie maker, especially grape pie. She loved to sew and made hundreds of quilts for babies in the hospital as well as her daughters' wedding dresses and the neighbor girls' dresses.
Survivors include her daughters, Diana "Dee Dee" (Dennis) Glancy and Nancy (Ted) Gutman both of Burlington; four grandchildren, Ashlee (Luke) Barnes, Holly (Ryan) Luttenegger, Teddy (Justina) Gutman, and Ben (Kelsey) Glancy; seven great-grandchildren, Lydia, Shea, and Cole Barnes, Jackson and Brock Luttenegger, Theo Gutman, and Charli Glancy; many loved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, James, and brother Charles Doebele.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, November 7, at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home.
The funeral service for Mrs. Oetken will be 11 a.m. Monday, November 7, at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. A time of food and fellowship will be held in the community room at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home following the burial.
A memorial has been established.