SUN PRAIRIE - Joan Ella Martinelli, age 85, of Sun Prairie, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at New Perspective Senior Living. She was born on April 23, 1937, in Madison, the daughter of Ewald and Mary (Schumacher) Brockman. She married Richard Martinelli on June 14, 1958.

Joan attended Edgewood High School and participated in school plays. After graduation, she worked for Farmers Mutual Insurance, which later became American Family Insurance. She married her high school sweetheart and started a family. Joan and Richard raised five children and traveled the world with them. She enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren participate in school activities. Joan was an avid Badgers football fan and also very competitive in bowling and board games. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, sewing, needlepoint, knitting, quilting and listening to music. Joan’s enthusiasm for life and unique sense of humor will be missed by her family and wide circle of friends.

Joan is survived by her husband, Richard; four sons, Steve (Cindy), Dave (Barb), Ron (Tish) and Chuck (Angie) Martinelli; daughter, Lori Martinelli; grandchildren, Cori, Joe (Angie), Andrea and Tony Martinelli, Cassandra (Chris) Anderson, Ashley (Owen)Titus, Alex and Andy Martnelli, Evan Behrens, Abby (Jarod) Felgenhauer and Josh and Jake (Caitlin)Knipfer; great grandchildren, Calli and Cam Anderson, Micah Behrens and Ollie and Finn Knipfer; siblings, Eugene (Gloria) Brockman and Tootie Hellenbrand; sister-in-law, Diane Brockman; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Don Brockman; and brother-in-law, Jerome Hellenbrand.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, March 4, 2023, with Fr. Chad Droessler presiding, followed by a luncheon. Burial will be held at Highland Memory Gardens at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., on Friday, March 3, 2023, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bristol Hospice, 206 E. Olin Ave., #101, Madison, WI 53713.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420

Joan Martinelli

April 23, 1937 - February 28, 2023

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