Joanne Marie Tremse, age 78, of Hudson, Wisconsin passed peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on Good Friday.

Joanne was born to Joseph and Marie Rubinic on April 25, 1942 in Blue Island, Illinois. In 1960, she graduated from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois.

On November 17, 1962 Joanne wed John Tremse with whom she shared 57 years of marriage and raised two daughters, Christine and Katherine. They lived in New Orleans LA, Norfolk VA and Bloomington IN as John served in the US Navy and finished his degree at Indiana University.

Following High School, Joanne worked as a Secretary and Stenographer for Continental Casualty Company and Illinois Central Railroad Company in downtown Chicago. During her early years of marriage, she served as a Secretary for Texaco Inc in New Orleans, Stenographer at the US Navy Headquarters and District Legal Office in Norfolk and Secretary at the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington.

Joanne was a “Volunteer Extraordinaire” and made a difference in the local communities in which she lived. During their twenty years in Elkhart IN, she devoted countless hours to Hillcrest United Methodist Church as the President of the UMW, Chairperson Board of Trustees, Chairperson Sanctuary Enhancement Committee, Youth Group Leader, Chairperson Vacation Bible School and Sunday School Teacher. In addition, she volunteered at Pinewood Elementary serving as the Chairperson Fundraisers, Chairperson Library Committee and PTA Board. She was a member of the Elkhart Civic Nu-Comers Club and a Girl Scout Troop Leader for many years. In Pittsburgh PA, she served on many committees at Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park, most importantly as the leader of the Hunger Task Force. She loved being a member and one term President of the Giant Oaks Garden Club in McMurray PA. After moving to Hudson WI in 2003, to be closer to their daughter’s families, Joanne volunteered many hours at Hudson United Methodist Church and served as a board member of Christian Community Homes Senior Living.

She enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening, traveling with John, dancing the Waltz, Cha Cha and Jitterbug with John and reading. Joanne savored the time spent with their close friends of the 7th Hour Club which started as a monthly dinner club that turned into a lifelong friendship and several trips together. In her younger years in Elkhart, she enjoyed the competition of a very active church Volleyball league and their monthly Pinochle club gatherings. In retirement, a special highlight each January was leaving the bitter cold north to spend time at their home in Fort Myers. She always looked forward to the spring break visit of her grandchildren and an annual family Labor Day cabin vacation in northern Minnesota. She was a wonderful wife, mother, nana and friend.

Joanne will be laid to rest, with her husband John, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. A celebration of life gathering for both Joanne & John will be held in Chicago, IL this July.  

Preceded in Death by Husband John Tremse, Mother Marie Rose Rubinic, Father Joseph John Rubinic, Father-in-law John Joseph Tremse, Mother-in-law Yolanda Irene Tremse, Sister Loretta Kosik, Sister-in-Law Yolanda Blackburn, Brothers-In-Law Jay Kosik, John Skertich and Jack Blackburn, and beloved dogs Casey and Cricket.

Joanne will remain forever in the hearts of her Daughters Christine Gibson and Katherine Hayes, Son-in-Law Jeff Gibson, Son -in-Law Jeff Hayes, Grandchildren Grace Hayes, Alex Gibson, Aaron Hayes and Evan Gibson, sister-in-law Anna Skertich and many nieces & nephews that loved her. She will be missed by friends in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Florida and Wisconsin.