Joan Wiberg

Joan Mae Wiberg, age 94, passed away surrounded by loving family on May 30, 2025.

Joan was born in 1930 in Sheboygan, WI, to Mae and Paul Kerr. Joan and her mother settled in Appleton, WI, and Joan graduated from St. Mary Catholic High School in Menasha, WI, in 1948.

After high school, Joan worked in the lab at the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, where she met doctoral candidate William A. (Bill) Wiberg. Joan’s mother taught her, and Bill, to play bridge, which became a source of countless friendships, and which she continued to play until her final months.

Joan and Bill were married in Appleton on October 22, 1960. Bill took a job at Consolidated Papers and the newlyweds relocated to Wisconsin Rapids, where they would live for the rest of their lives.

Being an only child of divorced parents, Joan dearly wanted to create a family. Joan and Bill certainly accomplished this, with four children in an always-lively home, and six grandchildren who were a source of pride and joy.

Joan was a loving mother who devoted her life to her children. She found great joy in actively supporting her kids in their athletic pursuits and extracurricular activities, notably with the swim teams at both the YMCA and Lincoln High School, and also with countless other teams and pursuits at both Assumption and Lincoln High Schools. This continued beyond the kids’ school sports days as her husband Bill became an avid triathlete later in life and some of their adult children followed in Bill’s footsteps. Traveling to competitions across the state, the country, and even the world, became something of a family pastime, and Joan relished serving as the support crew.

Joan was a very social person. She participated in multiple bridge clubs through the years and had multiple friend groups who she would meet on a weekly basis at local establishments for lunch or coffee. Her friends knew Joan to have a great sense of humor and she always kept them laughing.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband Bill on September 8, 2003.

Survivors include children Michael (JoAnn) of Wisconsin Rapids, Lisa Schuebel of Fitchburg, John (Brittney) of Boulder, CO, and Jeffrey of Glendale. She is also survived by grandchildren Rudy Schuebel of Madison, Ellen (Michael Kjentvet) Schuebel of Menomonee Falls, Brookelynn of Oregon, Maxwell of Milwaukee, Jack of Minneapolis, and Sophie of Wisconsin Rapids.

The family is grateful for the care provided by River Run Assisted Living.

A visitation will be held on Friday, June 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home, 2201 Chestnut Street, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin 54494.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a contribution to a memorial fund benefitting the South Wood County YMCA.