Joanne Grace Bronkhorst, 68, Waupun, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at Meriter Hospital in Madison.
Joanne was born on March 28, 1941, Fond du Lac, a daughter to Garrit and Anna (Hoekstra) Vande Kolk. She attended Waupun Christian School and Waupun High School. On May 1, 1958, Joanne was united in marriage to Larry Bronkhorst in Brandon. They lived in the Sun Prairie area for many years, where she was employed at Sentry Foods for several years. Joanne was a dedicated wife, loving mother, devoted grandmother, and great-grandmother who made her family the priority. Joanne volunteered her time delivering meals-on-wheels. She also participated with her children’s and grandchildren’s activities as a Girl Scout and 4-H leader. Her favorite place to be was outside and she enjoyed garage sales and flower gardening. Joanne always had a love for horses. She was interested in family genealogy and lovingly crafted large historical albums as a legacy for her family. Since returning to the Waupun area in 2006, she has attended Trinity Reformed Church.
Joanne is survived by Larry, her husband of 51 years; one daughter, Tammy (Scott) Freitag, Sun Prairie; three sons, Jeffery (Colleen) Bronkhorst, Waterloo, Wis.; Kevin (Jodie Amerell) Bronkhorst, Cottage Grove; and Charles (Nicole) Bronkhorst, Waterloo. She is further survived by nine grandchildren, Tanya (Mike) Fabry, and their children Alyson, Dylan and Emily; Benjamin (Michelle) Merrill; Jessica, Steffan, and Janna Bronkhorst; Nicole and Tyler Bronkhorst; Dayton and Hailey Bronkhorst; three siblings, Ruby (Clayton) Buteyn; Paul (Delores) Vande Kolk; Betty Westra-Kolk, all of Waupun; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Barney and Alton Vande Kolk.
A celebration of Joanne’s Life will be 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 2, 2009, at Trinity Reformed Church, 521 S. Madison St., Waupun, with the Rev. Bruce Wilterdink officiating. Entombment will follow at the Roselawn Memorial Park in Monona, where a time of visitation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m.
Joanne’s family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, at Kohls Community Funeral Home, 405 W. Main St., Waupun; and on Monday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the hour of services.
A Memorial Fund has been established in Joanne’s name.
Kohls Community Funeral Home, Waupun is serving the family. Online condolences may be sent at www.kohlsfh.com