Joan Blemberg

Born February 27, 1933, in Marquette, the daughter of James and Sarah (White) Fitzpatrick, Joan was raised in Marquette and graduated from Bishop Baraga High School in 1951. Like so many other young women of her time, one of Joan’s first work experiences was with Michigan Bell Telephone. She later continued her working career with LRN Distributors from where she retired. Joan was united in marriage to Joseph Blemberg on February 27, 1954 and they celebrated 48 years together before his passing in 2002.

Throughout the years, Joan balanced her responsibilities of wife, mom, and homemaker with the demands of employment. Her family always came first, and she loved following her kids and grandkids in their hockey endeavors. Joan possessed a good sense of humor and family and friends were often the recipients of her practical jokes and shenanigans. A social butterfly, she enjoyed spending her leisure hours shopping, playing BINGO, doing ceramics, attending craft shows, and having lunch with friends. Going to the movies was another leisure time favorite, herself having had a small part in Anatomy of a Murder when it was filmed locally. Joan was a member of St. Peter Cathedral.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Sally (Dave) Franson of Oshkosh, WI; her sons, Joe (Julie) Blemberg and Tim (Patty) Blemberg of Marquette; her grandchildren, Ron (Danielle Davis) Blemberg, Elizabeth (Geoff) Lasich, Christopher (Brooke) Franson, Matthew (Andrea) Franson, Hannah Blemberg, and Tom Blemberg; great-grandchildren, Mitchell and Norah Lasich, Will and Ian Franson, Miles and Bennett Franson, and Ava Blemberg; many nieces and nephews.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joe; her three brothers, Jim, Don, and Glenn Fitzpatrick.

The family will receive relatives and friends in the Bishop’s Room located at St. Peter Cathedral on Friday, July 26, beginning at 11:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Cathedral at 12:00 pm with Rev. Matthew Chartier as celebrant. A reception will follow in Cathedral Hall. Interment will be made in the Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Bethel Home, 225 N. Eagle Street, Oshkosh, WI 54902.

The family would like to thank the Bethel Home staff for the wonderful and compassionate care they provided Joan over the past five years.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.