Joyce D. Wilz

Joyce D. Wilz

Omro - It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Mother-in-Law, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, Joyce D. Wilz of Omro. Mom passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of January 2nd, 2018.

Mom was the 7th child born to the late Otto and Elsie (Schwandt) Fude at the family homestead in Fond du Lac County on July 9th, 1929. She obtained her education in the Berlin and Green Lake School Districts. On January 10th, 1948, she married our Dad, Andrew J. Wilz in Omro, and together they built our home and owned and operated Springbrook Fur Farm Inc. in the Town of Omro for over forty years.

Through thick and thin, good times and bad, Mom remained Dad's most steady and reliable "hired man." Dad would wind Mom up and push her button in early November and not shut her off until after pelting season was over in December. They then would enjoy one of their many trips to Las Vegas and other destinations during this reprieve. Dad would then start her up again for the breeding season in March and once more for the busy summer season before starting all over for another year.

Mom and Dad persevered together and achieved a renowned reputation in the mink industry throughout Wisconsin and the United States, known for the size and quality of their pelts from Omro, Wisconsin. After Dad passed away in 1989, Mom continued to run the ranch for a number of years with the faithful devotion and hard work from Edy and others. You would find Mom either on the "feeding machine" or lawn mower, washing and ironing, or cooking, cleaning and baking. Mom never sat still!

Gramma Joyce adored her grandchildren, Ronelle, Kelly and Matthew and cherished the time spent with them. As often as Mom could, and when Dad let her out of the mink yard, she attended their school activities, music and horse riding events. Always a willing babysitter! Then along came her great grandson, Dawsyn, living right next door and "going up" to see Gramma Joyce everyday as soon as he could walk. Dawsyn was and always will be Mom's "Pride and Joy."

Mom is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law: Roxann and David Tritt of Omro, Sherry and Joe Houle of Wabeno, and Penny Wilz and her husband Jeff Bertelsen of Omro; grandchildren: Ronelle Krings and her fiancée Rick Hanson, Kelly Meyer and Matthew Meyer all of Omro and great grandson: her "precious little boy" Dawsyn David Friedauer, also of Omro. She is further survived by her sister, Arla Lee of Oshkosh, brothers and sisters-in-law: Frances "Fritz" Fude of Berlin, Robert & Virginia Fude of Waupaca, and David and Marian Fude of Kenosha; brother-in-law Ben Niemuth of Ripon; nieces and nephews; and former son-in-law Tom Meyer of Omro.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents; our Dad, Andy "Junie"; infant sister Ruth; brothers: Ray (Fern), Wilbur (Caroline), Len (Donna) and Howard Fude; sisters: Zita (Alvin Buhrow) and Millie (Robert Raatz); brothers- and sisters-in-law: Oscar Lee, Donald (Agnes) Wilz, George Wilz and Patricia Niemuth.

Family Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, January 13th at Lake View Memorial Park, 2786 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh. Entombment will be with our Dad, in the chapel there…..Together Forever.

Funeral preparation and services entrusted to Joyce Schroeder and Brettschneider-Trettin-Nickel Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services, 606 N. Oneida Street, Appleton, Wisconsin.

Heartfelt thanks to Mom's "caregiver angels" for their years of tender loving care. You know who you are!

"Those we hold most dear never truly leave us, they live on in the kindness they showed, the comfort they shared and the love they brought into our lives."