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Joan passed away peacefully at the Highlands at Newcastle Place in Mequon, Wisconsin, on February 24, 2026, at the age of 82.Joan was born on November 28, 1943, in Ackley, Iowa, to George and Mary Weber. She graduated as valedictorian of Ackley-Geneva High School’s Class of 1961 and went on to attend the University of Dubuque and Iowa State University, where she earned a degree in Childhood Development and Elementary Education in 1966. She began her teaching career in Boone, Iowa, before moving with her husband and young children to Los Angeles, California, in 1970.In Los Angeles, she was a leader of parent volunteers at her children's schools before returning to full-time teaching. She served over a decade in the Los Angeles Unified School District, teaching both elementary school and middle school special education. While working full time and raising a family, she also returned to graduate school and earned two master’s degrees from Mount St. Mary’s College in Education Administration and Special Education. Joan was known for her patience, encouragement, and the genuine care she showed every student who walked into her classroom.Joan returned to the Midwest in 1995, settling in Glendale, Wisconsin, so she could be closer to family. She continued working with children at St. Francis Children’s Center before retiring from the classroom. She later worked at a gourmet cooking store in Mequon, where she enjoyed sharing her love of food, cooking, and hospitality with customers and friends.Joan found joy in many interests throughout her life. She was an avid student of history of all kinds and particularly enjoyed researching her family’s genealogy. A lifelong Anglophile, she enjoyed BBC mystery programs and followed British royal history with keen interest. She also loved creative projects of many kinds, from sewing and refinishing furniture to rehabilitating thrift finds and designing home décor.Her home and garden reflected the same creativity and care she brought to everything she did. Joan tended a vibrant herb and flower garden for many years and delighted in sharing dried culinary herbs and other gifts from the garden with friends and family. When she was outside gardening, she rarely stayed a stranger to anyone for long, frequently striking up conversations with neighbors and local dog-walkers. The community of neighbors in Glendale became an important source of support for Joan and her husband, especially in recent years.Joan also had a deep and lasting love for animals, most especially cats. For more than 60 years, they were a cherished part of her life. She delighted in their personalities and quiet companionship, whether she was taking in a stray, welcoming a new kitten, or sharing a peaceful moment on the couch with a long-time feline friend.Above all, Joan will be remembered as a devoted caregiver. She lovingly cared for her mother in her home for many years and was a steady, compassionate presence for family and friends alike. Her well-loved collection of comfort food recipes—generously shared over the years—remains a lasting expression of her love. Joan will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.Joan is survived by her husband of 62 years, Gary Brammer of Glendale, WI; her daughter, Elizabeth (Michael) Penn of San Carlos, CA; her son, Jon (Heather) Brammer of Bozrah, CT; her sister, Carol (Daniel) Chew of Silver Spring, MD; her brother, Bill (Sharon) Weber of Kamloops, BC; her nieces, Carrie (Antonio) Chew of Silver Spring, MD and Anna (Rob) Weber of North Vancouver, BC; her nephews Jay Sroka of Epworth, IA, Tim (Cari) Sroka of Peosta, IA, Joe (Esmeralda) Sroka of Scottsdale, AZ, Paul Weber of Lachine, QC, and Matt (Adrienne) Ostergard of Toronto, ON; and her cousins Marge Boheman of Ackley, IA, Thelma (Wayne) Shugar of Ackley, IA, Marcia Miner of Mesa, AZ, Scott Miner of Apache Junction, AZ, and Susan (Stephen) Lovett of Oklahoma City, OK. She was preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Jean Brammer Mueller, and by her parents, Mary Virginia Miner and George Frederick August Weber.The family would like to thank the nursing staff at the Highlands at Newcastle Place for their personal engagement and tender care during Joan’s last months.Private family services will be held.

Joan Weber Brammer

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