Joan P Unrein
February 21, 1944 - November 12, 2025
Obituary
LIVESTREAM SERVICE:
Joan’s Livestream Service will begin at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Scroll down to the Webcast section and click on “Watch Now.”
MADISON - Joan P. Unrein, 81, of Madison, Wis., passed away peacefully on November 12, 2025, at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge. She was born February 21, 1944, in Milwaukee, Wis. She graduated from Arrowhead High School in 1962. She attended her first year of college at Lawrence University before transferring to University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned her degree in elementary education in 1968. On June 16, 1963, she married Raymond J. Unrein in Hartland, Wis., sharing their lives together for over 62 years.
Joan began her career as an educational assistant at Waterloo High School. She went on to work as the lead teacher at Madison Area Technical College-Fort Atkinson for the adult learning lab until her retirement in 2000. In her role, she excelled at adapting to the unique needs of her adult learners, moving seamlessly between subject areas.
Joan was an avid reader and prolific knitter. Her knitting projects included prayer shawls and baby hats donated to St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, where she was recognized for 10,000 volunteer hours for her many donations over decades of knitting. She appreciated time spent in the natural world, including the day-to-day activities on their farm, tending animals and gardening. Joan also enjoyed eagle watching through the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, with weekly visits to her assigned eagle’s nest each season to see the babies grow and leave the nest.
Joan is survived by her husband, Raymond Unrein of Madison, Wis.; grandchildren, Rebecca (Uel Kolesar) Kemnitz of Madison, Wis., Karl Kemnitz of Milwaukee, Wis., and Sarah Kemnitz of Minocqua, Wis., and their father, Tony Kemnitz of Weston, Wis. She is also survived by her brothers, Robert (Elizabeth) Parker of Hamden, Conn., and Richard (Vagner de Almeida) Parker of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; brother-in-law, Fredrick (Barbara) Unrein of Milwaukee, Wis.; nieces and nephews, Tom, Kelly, Peter, Karen, Kristi, Jill, Mike and Amy; and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Roberta Parker; children, Ellen Kemnitz and Karl Unrein; sister, Ann Spence; parents-in-law, Joseph and Viola Unrein; and brother-in-law, Joseph Unrein.
A memorial service will be held at OAKWOOD VILLAGE PRAIRIE RIDGE (EAST), 5565 Tancho Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 28, 2025, with the Rev. Wayne Shannon presiding. Visitation will be held at Oakwood from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. A second memorial service will be held at ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 226 E. Madison St., Waterloo, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2025, with Pastor Robert Moberg presiding. Family and friends who wish to view the service via LIVESTREAM may visit Joan’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com at the time of the service on Saturday and click on "Watch Now" in the Webcast section. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. A graveside service will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Waterloo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Karl J. Unrein and Ellen T. Kemnitz Memorial Scholarship Fund. Memorials may be sent to Ray Unrein, 5575 Tancho Drive #107, Madison, WI 53718. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
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