MADISON - Joan June Wichern, age 86, of Madison, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 17, 2025, at home. She was born on October 11, 1939, in Fennimore, Wis., the daughter of Austie and Doraless (Davis) Staskal.

She graduated from Fennimore High School in 1958. She was united in marriage to Dean Wichern on June 1, 1962, in Rockford, Ill.

Joan moved to Madison at age 17 and enjoyed working in many different fields. She started her career as a bookkeeper for various businesses. She then opened a home daycare in 1964 and served families and children with great care for 26 years, until 1990. She then worked for the U.S. Census Bureau, where she was Assistant Manager, and developed a training manual that was used in the tri-state area from 1997-2000. She also worked at Bootstrap with at-risk teenagers as a student advisor. In 2001, she began working at Springs of Hope Church as a secretary, retiring in 2018.

She explored and strengthened her faith through bible studies and was an active member of Lakeview Christian Church from 1975 to 2024. Joan enjoyed gardening, cooking, genealogy research, and reading. Joan was entertained by TV crime shows like “Monk”, “Perry Mason” and “Matlock” and suspenseful reality shows like “Survivor” and “Alone”. She cherished spending time with family, going out for dinner, but especially sharing the holidays together.

Joan is survived by her sons, James (Kris) Wichern and John (Mary) Wichern; daughter, Jodene Ruiz de Chavez; grandsons, James (Amanda) Pfeiffer, Josh Wichern, Jackson Wichern and Luke Wichern; granddaughters, Joy (Steve) Blankenheim, Jenny (Tim) Ketelboeter, Julia (Andrew) Ridder, Emma Ruiz de Chavez and Maggie (James Babb) Wichern; great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Danny Pfeiffer, Charlie and Oakley Blankenheim, Ayla and Ada Ketelboeter and Albert Babb; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean Wichern; parents, Austie and Doraless Staskal; and sister, Anita Johnson.

A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday November 26, 2025, with Pastor Jeff King presiding. Burial will take place at Burke Station Cemetery in Town of Burke. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, and also from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Agrace HospiceCare (www.agrace.org/donate). Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

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

Joan June Wichern

October 11, 1939 - November 17, 2025

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