Joanne K Rodgers

Joanne K. Rodgers

Joanne Dolores King, born January 17, 1931 in Washington, DC, joined her husband, Tom Rodgers, in heaven on December 2, 2024. She passed peacefully at the home they built near Duck Lake in northern Wisconsin.

Joanne married Tommie Jean Rodgers on May 28, 1955 when Tom was a lieutenant junior grade in the United States Naval Reserve stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. They spent their first year of marriage in Hawaii. When Tom preceded Jo in death on December 24, 2004 he was a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy. They lived around the United States because of military assignments and Tom’s work with Westinghouse and Wisconsin Electric Power. It was the building of Point Beach Nuclear Plant that brought the Rodgers family to Kewaunee as Tom was assistant superintendent with responsibility for the building of that plant. A home on Dodge Street is where Jo was able to settle down and see her family grow through elementary and high school years. She had returned recently and enjoyed the time she was able to in the area.

Joanne is survived by her five children, Vicci Rodgers, David Rodgers (Donna), Lisa Kuehl (Brian), Dan Rodgers (Jodi) and Amy Salmon (Pat). 13 grandchildren: Chris Kuehl, Holly Nielson, Jacob Rodgers, Trisha Siebold, Katie Jo Rodgers, Laura Steinhorst, Cole Keutzer, Adam Kuehl, Ruby Keutzer, Samantha Lacey, Briana Davies, Andrew and Madelyn Salmon and 12 great grandchildren. In addition to Tom, the love of her life, she was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law and her parents.

Jo was a cracker jack bridge player, loved to knit, cook, dance, garden, collect antiques, refinish woodwork, read the newspaper, be at the beach, entertain and drive her car anywhere. It didn’t matter how far the trip, Jo was happy on the road. When it came time to settle into retirement, Jo and Tom picked Duck Lake in Northern Wisconsin, which was God’s country to them.

Laurel, Maryland was where Jo spent much of her youth. She was the vice president of Laurel High School Class of 1948. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from James Madison College in Harrisonburg, VA in 1952. Jo used her degree to teach children with learning problems in Math and English in the Kewaunee School District and for a developmental training center in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

“Nana” was her preferred name. In addition to her children and grandchildren, she also was Nana to many other young people who were welcomed in the Rodgers’ home. No matter what was happening in her world, Nana had a smile to share … it was contagious and became her trademark. Family, immediate and extended, was everything to Jo. She had so much love to share and made sure people knew their lives were important to her.

A Celebration of Life is planned on December 21 at the Community Congregational Church (CCC) in Kewaunee Wisconsin, a very important church in the Rodgers’ family history. Lifting up Jo’s life on the first day of her favorite season brings special meaning. Join the family for visitation from 12-1 p.m., followed by the service and a reception, all at CCC. A Memorial Fund has been established at the CCC in Joanne’s name.