Joanne C. Yaeger, 84, of La Crosse, WI, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2013 at Bethany Riverside Lutheran Home in La Crosse, WI.
She was born on December 16, 1929 to Lester and Winifred (Wrighton) Christiansen in Waukesha, WI. Joanne “Jo” was married to Paul Yaeger on December 26, 1953 at the First United Methodist Church in Waukesha, WI. Joanne graduated from Wisconsin State College in Whitewater, WI. Paul and Joanne met while in a play by the Community Players of Sheboygan and became engaged in June 1953. Joanne and her husband both taught in the Sheboygan School District before moving to Glen Ellyn, IL to teach in 1957. Jo was a 5th grade school teacher in Glen Ellyn, IL for many years before retiring in May 1985. She was an active member of the Glen Ellyn Methodist Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and the Parfreyville United Methodist Church in Waupaca, WI. She had a lifelong love of antiques and was proprietor of Halfway House Antiques in Rural, WI for several years.
She is survived by her son, Mark (Jackie) Yaeger of La Crosse, WI; daughter, Mary Jo (Larry) Harris of Carol Stream, IL; grandchildren: Cory, Justin, Kathy, Alex, Lauren, Abby and Adam; 4 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Yaeger; her parents; sister, Dorothy Visser. The family would like to thank the care givers at Bethany Riverside Health Care.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Coulee Region Cremation Group, 133 Mason St., Onalaska, WI. The Rev. Ted Dewald will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In honor of Jo’s passion for gardening, flowers are welcome. A spring service and interment will be announced at a later date in Waupaca, WI.