Joanne Mary (Lydon) Kainz

It is with great sorrow that the family of Joanne Mary (Lydon) Kainz, age 86 of Blanchardville, announce her passing on Monday May 13th, 2024, at the SSM Hospice Home in Monroe, Wisconsin.

Joanne was born on July 23, 1937, in Kendall, Wisconsin to Everett John and Margaret Agnes (Schumacher) Lydon. She grew up on the family farm in Kendall, helping her parents and brothers on the farm. She attended school in Kendall, Wisconsin where she graduated in 1955. After graduating, she moved to Madison where she worked at the Rennebohm Drug Store, Madison General Hospital, and worked at the Wisconsin Telephone Company. Joanne met her future husband, Leo Jacob Kainz in Madison when a friend let him tag along with him on a trip to Madison. Joanne and Leo were married October 12, 1957, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kendall, WI. After they were married, they lived in Rockford, IL where Leo worked at Carnes. They moved to Blanchardville in 1958 after their first child Debbie was born and Leo transferred to Carnes in Verona, Wisconsin. Joanne and Leo added five more children to their family which she watched over with love and commitment. Once the six children were older and the youngest, Lonny was in Kindergarten, Joanne went back to work. Joanne started her next phase of life by starting to work at Trumpy Cheese in 1972, where she would continue working for them for 21 years. When the cheese business closed in 1993, she continued her working career at Federal Industries in Belleville, WI where she would retire in March 2002. Full retirement for her only lasted 3 months before she would rejoin the work force by taking a job with Monroe Clinic where she cleaned the Blanchardville Clinic and a few other Monroe clinic locations. A shoulder injury caused her to finally retire otherwise she would still be working.

During their lives in Blanchardville they lived on County H for 33 years where they made many memories with their children. With those memories were also lots of work and the sharing of their love for gardening and fishing. Within walking distance to the Pecatonica River, the children were taught how to fish and even clean the fish you caught. The garden and canning became a large part of their summers but as the children grew and moved away the garden grew smaller. During the years the six kids were growing up, they spent Sundays together and always gathering at a different family members home or family coming to see them. Joanne was a wonderful baker and known for her graham cracker pie, fudge oatmeal bars and chocolate chip cookies. As a team Leo and Joanne loved bowling and spending time with friends at card club or you may even see them at the casino. Joanne loved spending time with all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed attending all their different events from school, church, and sports and when the games were close you would see her bowed head as she would be praying for a good outcome. In 1996 her sons built them a beautiful home, beside her daughter Debbie, where she would live until she became ill on May 3rd, 2024. Joanne enjoyed cooking and baking, word searches and puzzles. She was a devoted Catholic and a member of St. Isidore Parish (Immaculate Conception Catholic Church). She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Blanchardville and helped with the Pecatonica Food Pantry. In Joanne and Leo's retirement, they enjoyed bus trips around the United States to many places and enjoyed those trips with many families and friends. Joanne loved her sports teams, and you could find her in front of the TV watching the Packers, Badgers, and Brewers games, depending on the season. Together, Joanne and Leo, built a life filled with love and laughter.

Joanne was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a great friend to many. Joanne was a selfless woman who dedicated her life to her family and friends. Joanne will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all.

Joanne is survived by her six children: Debbie (Dave) Johnson of Blanchardville, Laurie (Dave) Hughes of Blanchardville, Diane (Nate) Skattum of Argyle, Larry Kainz of Argyle, David (Cheri) Kainz of Belleville, and Lonny (Tammy) Kainz of Pueblo West, CO. Her fifteen grandchildren: John (Marley), Adam (Rachel) Tracey (Kyle), Ryan (Vanessa), Derek (Shania), Kyle (Mary), Rex (Sandy), Courtney (Steven), Cassidy (Dave), Cammy (Jacob), Justin (Travis), Jackson, Donavon, McKay, and Ciana. As well as twenty-seven great-grandchildren.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents and her in laws; her husband Leo, who died on 12/08/11, three grandsons, Craig Hughes on 11/28/89, Jerome Johnson on 06/29/12, Jeremy Kainz on 5/17/13, and two brothers, James Lydon on 04/13/96 and John Lydon on 06/07/17 and her daughter in law, Melody Kainz on 09/02/20.

Joanne will be dearly missed but her spirit will continue to shine brightly in the memories of her family and friends and all who were graced by her presence.

A visitation for Joanne will be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. with a Rosary service at 8:00 P.M. at Blanchard Hall at 204 South Main Street in Blanchardville.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday May 18, 2024 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at  304 Meadow Street in Blanchardville.  The service will be livestreamed on the Saether Funeral Service Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/saetherfuneralservice Burial will follow at the Calvary Cemetery in Blanchardville.  A catered funeral lunch will be held at Blanchard Hall in Blanchardville after burial.  Saether Funeral Service of Blanchardville is assisting the family.  Online memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.saetherfuneralservice.com.

A memorial video telling Joanne's story in pictures is available at this link:

https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/JJMK2HH5BS3CNSCS