Joan Marie Berens

Joan Marie Berens, surrounded by members of her family, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 3, 2025, at SSM Hospice Home of Hope from complications of a stroke. She was born on July 25, 1933, in Fond du Lac, the daughter of Lloyd and Gertrude Lenore (Ronan) Case. Joan graduated from St. Mary’s Springs Academy in 1951. On a bright sunny day on January 23, 1954, she married James Lawrence Berens at St. Louis Church in Fond du Lac.

Joan’s life revolved around her dedication to her family and her faith in God. This was the most evident with her struggles with depression and anxiety. When she would be at her lowest point it was that belief in the Lord and the responsibility she felt towards her family that ultimately prevailed. 

In her day Joan was a shopper. She loved to go to rummage and estate sales. Armed with the Action Advertiser she would hit the shopping trail every Wednesday looking for items for family, friends, and of course herself.

She was an ardent follower of pop culture. This started back when she was a young girl in the 40’s where she would read about and collect memorabilia of the current stars of the day. Throughout her life she made it a point to know who was hot and who was not. There weren’t too many people at her age who knew who Lady Gaga was.

For 71 years Joan and Jim were true partners who lived according to their marriage vows. They enjoyed traveling throughout the US and enjoyed country music by attending concerts and in later years watching various country music specials from their extensive video and DVD collection.

Due to her passing our lives have a little less humor and wit, the amount of steadfast love we have been accustomed to has diminished, and the example she set concerning faith in God is no longer. We will miss her deeply. This can be best summed up by a lyric from one of Joan’s favorite songs “Will The Circle be Unbroken”

 Well, I went back home, home was lonely

 For my mother she was gone

 And all my family there was cryin’

 For our home felt sad and alone.

Those individuals who are honoring her memory include her husband, Jim Berens; her two children, Kevin (Mary) Berens and Kathleen (Paul) Oldenburg; four grandchildren, Logan (Kelsey) Berens, Jill (Brandon) Petersen, Dana Strutz, and Jared Strutz; and three great-grandchildren. Joan was preceded in death by her parents; and one sister, Eunice Willett Bethke.

 We would like to thank The Woodlands Assisted Living Facility and its staff for providing a high quality living environment for Joan and Jim since 2020. After leaving their home of 63 years the Woodlands made the transition easy.

We would also like to thank SSM Hospice Home of Hope for their caring and support of Joan’s final days. Their professionalism towards her and our family was greatly appreciated.

Private visitation and services will take place and are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com