Joan M. Zillges

Appleton - Joan Mary Zillges (Roth), of Appleton, Wisconsin, passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2018, while surrounded by her loving family and friends. Joan was blessed with daily hugs from her loving husband David who loved giving them to her "whether she wanted them or not".

Joan was born on December 6, 1938 in the Appleton area, as the daughter of the late Alexander and Catherine Roth.

Joan married her High School sweetheart David Gordon Zillges on August 30th, 1958. Joan deeply treasured her husband David, her son Andy, her daughter Caroline, Granddaughters Mara and Autumn, Grandsons Alex and Andrew, Great-grandsons Carter and Bentley and Great-granddaughter Eila.

Joan worked until giving birth to her son Andrew and then worked at home raising Andrew and daughter Caroline.

Joan loved creating unique quilts and Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for all of her kids and grandchildren. Joan also loved to sew and do crossword puzzles and word search, often competing with her kids in completing the crossword puzzles.

Joan spent many happy years with her family living on Newberry Street in the Town of Buchanan where she made lifelong friends in the neighborhood. Joan's favorite restaurant was Taco Johns which she faithfully visited with her kids from opening day in Appleton in the mid-1970's until her last visit on November 24, 2018. She was a regular there every Tuesday and Saturday with her Grandson Alex, Granddaughter Autumn and daughter Caroline. Joan also enjoyed dining at JD's Drive In as well as talking to JD himself, she frequented JD's Drive In with her family from the start, beginning in 1968.

Joan was preceded in passing by her loving husband David, her parents Alexander and Catherine (Mueller) Roth, sisters Helen Baumgarten and Darlene Arnoldussen.

Joan's surviving family include her son and wife Andrew and Lynn Zillges; daughter Caroline (Zillges) Seidl; grandchildren: Mara (& Travis) Nelson (Zillges), Alex Seidl, Andrew Zillges II, Autumn Seidl and Makayla Olson (Zillges); great grandchildren: Carter Nelson, Bentley Nelson and Eila Nelson; brother Alexander (and wife Sharon) Roth, sister Lois Mandock and brother Nicholas (and wife Mary) Roth.

The family wishes to give special thanks to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton and all of the great people working there who took such good care of her in her last days.

A memorial will be held from 12:00 - 5:00, December 15, 2018 at Pullmans at Trolley Square Restaurant 619 S Olde Oneida St, Appleton, WI. Father Bill from Saint Mary's will be offering a prayer at about 2:00.