Joan (Gerrits) Knighton, age 89, of Weston, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026, leaving a void her family cannot fill.
Joan was born on March 28, 1936, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Louis and Henrietta Gerrits. She graduated from West De Pere High School.
On December 29, 1956, Joan married the love of her life, Warren Knighton. Together they shared 69 years of marriage, celebrating their anniversary just weeks before her passing.
Joan loved to dance and enjoyed camping and fishing—sometimes competitively—with her family in her younger years, and later with Warren once the nest was empty. She was always ready for an adventure with him. One such adventure led them to purchase a hardware store and move from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, to Wausau, Wisconsin. Another took them to sunny Arizona, where they resided for 40 years before returning to the Wausau area in 2025.
Joan is survived by her loving husband, Warren; her children, Victoria (David Dumdei) Knighton, William (Beth) Knighton, and Jessica Pichelman; her grandchildren, Shawn (Gwen) Berg, Kari (Zachary) Glascock, Mitchell and Logan Dumdei, Gregory (Sara) Knighton, Camille Knighton, Andrew Knighton, and Kalie Pichelman; and her great-grandchildren, Ryland Granger, Sullivan Berg, Corinne and Howard Glascock, and Isabel, Leo, and Oliver Knighton.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Henrietta Gerrits; her siblings, Harold (Audrey) Gerrits, Dolores (Cliff) Heyrman, and Kenneth Gerrits; and her sister-in-law, Geraldee (Walt) Groebner.
The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Pride TLC and St. Croix Hospice—especially Brenda and Chaplain Joe—for the compassionate care they provided Joan and for the support they offered the family during her final days.
In accordance with Joan's wishes, no services will be held. She will be remembered for her infectious laugh, positive attitude, and love of life. She will be deeply missed.
Joan was born on March 28, 1936, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Louis and Henrietta Gerrits. She graduated from West De Pere High School.
On December 29, 1956, Joan married the love of her life, Warren Knighton. Together they shared 69 years of marriage, celebrating their anniversary just weeks before her passing.
Joan loved to dance and enjoyed camping and fishing—sometimes competitively—with her family in her younger years, and later with Warren once the nest was empty. She was always ready for an adventure with him. One such adventure led them to purchase a hardware store and move from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, to Wausau, Wisconsin. Another took them to sunny Arizona, where they resided for 40 years before returning to the Wausau area in 2025.
Joan is survived by her loving husband, Warren; her children, Victoria (David Dumdei) Knighton, William (Beth) Knighton, and Jessica Pichelman; her grandchildren, Shawn (Gwen) Berg, Kari (Zachary) Glascock, Mitchell and Logan Dumdei, Gregory (Sara) Knighton, Camille Knighton, Andrew Knighton, and Kalie Pichelman; and her great-grandchildren, Ryland Granger, Sullivan Berg, Corinne and Howard Glascock, and Isabel, Leo, and Oliver Knighton.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Henrietta Gerrits; her siblings, Harold (Audrey) Gerrits, Dolores (Cliff) Heyrman, and Kenneth Gerrits; and her sister-in-law, Geraldee (Walt) Groebner.
The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Pride TLC and St. Croix Hospice—especially Brenda and Chaplain Joe—for the compassionate care they provided Joan and for the support they offered the family during her final days.
In accordance with Joan's wishes, no services will be held. She will be remembered for her infectious laugh, positive attitude, and love of life. She will be deeply missed.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joan Knighton, please visit our flower store.
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