Joan Margaret Schinkowitch

Joan Margaret Schinkowitch, age 84, passed away peacefully with family at her side, Sunday, May 3, 2026. She was born in Milwaukee, WI, May 7, 1941, a twin, and the 5th of 7 daughters, of the late Alex and Marie (Nee: Sensenbrenner) Herdt.

Joan graduated from St. Catherine's High ”Class of 1959”. On May 19, 1962, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church she was united in marriage to Donald F. Schinkowitch. They were blessed with 6 sons, Mark, Michael, Matthew, John, Paul, and James. Joan and Don were married for 44 years when Don passed away on November 6, 2006. She was a longtime member of Holy Name Catholic Church, where she served as secretary for 5 years. She was also a member of The Catholic Women's Club. Joan was a self-taught musician who could pick up any instrument, and automatically play it well. Her favorites were the guitar and piano. She loved to entertain people with her talent. She played the organ at masses for many years in church and also belonged to the choir. A major highlight of her life was in 1997 when her church choir traveled to the Vatican to perform for the Pope. She especially loved to play for the "older" people at several nursing homes here in Racine. She had a busy schedule of playing at Lakeshore Manor, Becker-Shoop Center, Ridgewood, St. Monica's, and also for Harmony Club. She treasured the time spent with her children and grandchildren. In 2004 she was dubbed the "Coupon Queen" by the Racine Journal Times and featured in a newspaper article. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her sons, Michael (Christine) Schinkowitch, Matthew Schinkowitch, John (Tami) Schinkowitch, Paul (Mary) Schinkowitch, James (Rachel) Schinkowitch; eight grandchildren, Aaron (Alyssa), Zachary (Rachel), Anthony, Sydney, Theresa, Parker, JJ, and Zoe; four great grandchildren, Briella & Cori Schinkowitch, Emberleigh & Ethan Schinkowitch; sisters, Dorothy Beyer, twin sister Jeanne Stobb, Rita Nienhaus; brother-in-laws, Richard Schinkowitch and Emmert Dose; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many dear friends. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Mark; daughter-in-law, Heidi Schinkowitch; sisters, Carol Dose, Alice Markus and Margaret Rice; in-laws, Marcia Cape, Joan Jagodensky, Donald Nienhaus, Robert Markus, Walter Stobb, and Paul Rice.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Richard Catholic Church, 1503 Grand Avenue, Saturday, May 9th at 10am. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. Relatives and friends may meet with the family on Friday, May 8th, from 5 to 7pm at Maresh- Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home with a short prayer service at 7, or on Saturday at St. Richard's Church from 9 to 10am.

Memorials to St. Richard Catholic Church have been suggested.