Joan M. (Algozine) Kretz

Joan Marie Kretz, (85), of Pine River Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 17th, 2024.

Joan was born on January 6th,1939 to Irene and Joseph Algozine in East Chicago, Indiana. Once Joan graduated from high school, she married her husband, Raymond Kretz. Joan had a career as a high school cook and enjoyed curating different recipes for students. She later managed the culinary staff and was able to take work trips to Las Vegas, which she enjoyed.

Joan is predeceased by her mother, Irene Algozine, and her father, Joseph Algozine. Joan is survived by her husband, Raymond, her sister Marie Kuechler (Ron), her brother Joe, and four children, Don (Joe), David (Jackie), Dan (Jennepher), Carolynn (Joe), her three grandchildren, Mariah, Kylie, and Tyler, among other family members.

Joan valued family very much and spent years as a den mother with the boy scouts, volunteering at sporting events, and being with her family every chance she could. Three of her children lived out of state, and Joan enjoyed visiting them in Texas, Las Vegas, and Iowa. Her youngest son, Dan, lives in Wisconsin and would frequently bring his family to visit her.

When Joan was blessed with grandchildren, she was overjoyed. She did everything she could to spend time with them. She took them on weekend birthday trips, watched all sporting games that she could, and talked to them on the phone often. When Joan could no longer travel, she made sure to make her family feel loved in other ways. She sent granddaughter and grandson ornaments every year to her grandkids every year since birth. She enjoyed sending funny and thoughtful gifts, like chocolate covered Oreos, specialty nutcrackers, boxes of butterflies and donut delivery.

Joan did not wish to have a funeral. She felt passionate about donating herself to the Medical College of Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the foundation, https://www.mcw.edu/giving/ways-to-give/donate-now

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