Joanne M. Pfeiffer

Joanne Pfeiffer was an amiable and generous woman to know and love. She modeled a life rich with hard work, putting others first, and being an exceptionally loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her warm personality, cheerful demeanor, and infectious smile will forever be remembered by her many special friends and loved ones.

Despite the Thirties being marked by tough economic times, the decade also saw an expansion of new technologies. Aviation, radio, and film were making great strides. Bringing great joy to their world, Alvin Sr. and Stella (Nee: Celmerowski) Heck welcomed home their newborn baby girl, Joanne Mary, on March 10, 1936, in Racine, Wisconsin. Her birth brought much happiness to her loving parents.

Joanne lived a typical childhood of the times. As a young child, she enjoyed jumping rope and playing marbles at Sacred Heart School. She also loved joining the kids in a game of basketball or baseball at recess. During her junior year, she met the love of her life, Marvin Pfeiffer. The two of them shared the same homeroom and took an interest in one another. She was a bit social and occasionally got detention for wearing lipstick. She graduated with the Class of 1954 from St. Catherine’s High School. Joanne started work as a bookkeeper and Marvin joined the service. He was a soldier in the United States Army and upon his return, the happy couple joined in marriage on November 24, 1956, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Soon after their marriage, they started their family that grew to include seven wonderful children; David, Daniel, Steven, Ann, Jeanie, Lori, and Judi.

As a mother, Joanne relished in her devotion to her children. As a family they enjoyed making memories at the beach, going camping, as well as roller skating. Joanne loved to make the holidays special, especially Christmas, by hosting the traditional cut-out cookie bake with her family and her over-the-top decorations. A wonderful baker, her family loved her Heath Bar cakes and cherry torts! She loved preparing homemade spaghetti and meatballs, Mock Chicken legs, and chocolate malts served in a bowl. Marv especially loved her fried Chub. She and Marv raised their children with a strong Catholic foundation and were proud to have them all graduate from St. Catherine’s High School. Joanne modeled for them a life filled with hard work and the importance of family.

Always active, Joanne enjoyed her many special hobbies over the years. She had an extensive collection of Christmas ornaments which she cherished. Artistic and creative, she enjoyed painting ceramics with her special group of childhood friends from Sacred Heart. She also loved playing cards with her friends and going bowling. She enjoyed doing her crossword puzzles and playing Scrabble. A devoted Christian, she faithfully attended Mass at St. Joseph Parish. She also was a member of the Catholic Women's Club. Joanne loved going out to breakfast after Mass. Attending the many special events of her grandchildren was a special delight! Highlights of her years as a grandmother were the many trips she took to Florida to take each of her grandchildren to Disney World. Above all else, any time Joanne was surrounded by her loved ones, her heart was content. She left a legacy of unconditional love through many small acts of love and great sacrifice. Her ability to accept life’s challenges, her spirit of adventure, and her wonderful sense of humor, will be dearly missed. May her loved ones reflect on her life with great happiness and may they honor her life by always looking for the good in others.

Joanne Mary Pfeiffer, age 85, passed away Monday, February 21st, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her three sons, David (Mary) Pfeiffer of Waukesha, Daniel (Patti) Pfeiffer of Naperville, IL, Steven (Cara) Pfeiffer of Racine; her four daughters, Ann (Dan) Kelley, Jeanie (Malcolm) Hatfield, Lori (John) Suchla, Judi (Steve) Behrendt, all of Racine Co; twenty-eight grandchildren, Michelle (Rich) Jacobi, Catherine (Dan) Zuperku, Amanda Pfeiffer, Jonathan (Bethany) Pfeiffer, Kaitlyn (Ryan) McNamara, Meghan Pfeiffer, James (Amanda) Pfeiffer, Joy (Steve) Blankenheim, Jenny (Tim) Ketelboeter, Julia Pfeiffer, Karin (MIke) Vaughn, Erick (Gwen) Robertson, Laura (Ryan) Dehart, Craig Robertson, Rebecca (Tony) Arndt, Tom (Amber) Pfeiffer, Jamie Pfeiffer, Rachel Kelley (fiance Ben Johnson), Erika (Eric) Kelley-Staniszewski, Dana (Rich) Gallagher, Mackenna Hatfield, Malcolm “Tre” Hatfield III, Jacob Suchla (fiance Emily Zeman), Andrew (Lauren) Suchla, Lauren Behrendt, Sammi (Josh) Rodriguez, Jack Behrendt, and Luke Behrendt; twenty great-grandchildren, Zander, Bellamy, Gwenyth Zuperku; Quentin, Tyler, Renae Dehart; Wyatt, Axl Robertson; Charlotte, Daniel Pfeiffer; Charlie Blankenheim; Alya, Ada Ketelboeter; Hayden Vaughn; Aaron, Amelia Arndt; Jacob Johnson; Flynn, Fiona Gallagher; Charlotte Suchla; brothers and sisters, Alvin (Carol) Heck of Colorado, Patricia Merritt of Arizona, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard Pfeiffer of Racine, Quinn Smet of Stoughton, WI, Joanne Pfeiffer of Ames, IA, Glenn (Sue) Pfeiffer of Racine; special friends, Sandi and Steve Nylander, the Carlson family, all of Racine, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends and neighbors. Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Marvin, her brother, Ronald Heck, her brother-in-law, Robert Merritt, and her sister-in-law, Verna Smet.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1533 Erie Street, with Rev. Steve Verghese officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church on Tuesday from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the Mass. Private Interment will be held. Memorials to St. Joseph Catholic Church or to St. Catherine’s High School have been suggested. Thank you to the Parkview Garden’s staff, Kindred hospice nurses, Dr. Brittig and Nurse Ruth for their compassionate care.