Joyce Gehr

Alice Joyce Gehr (Haanen), age 95, of Neenah, passed away at Heritage Woods on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Joyce was born on November 27, 1927, in Green Bay, to the late Louis and Gertrude Haanen. She married William Gehr on August 20, 1949, at Bay Settlement. She studied at UW Madison, receiving a major in speech and minors in art and English. After a brief teaching career, she devoted her life to raising seven children.

Joyce was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a founding member of St. Gabriel Catholic Church. Joyce was Pro-Life and volunteered her time at the Pregnancy Hotline for many years. She enjoyed many hobbies, including painting, drawing, reading, piano, knitting, crocheting, singing, and writing. Although Joyce struggled with memory loss, it never affected her wonderful personality and great sense of humor.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband, Bill; sister, Peg (Jack) Kitslaar; and many loved in-laws.

She is survived by her seven children, Peggy Gehr, Neenah; Steve (Becky) Gehr, New Richmond, WI, and their children Matt (Sarah) Gehr, Meghan (Luke) Ostreko, and Molly Gehr; Connie Keller, Oshkosh, and her children Grace and Andy Keller; Tony Gehr, Neenah; Kris (Gary) Rothenbach, Neenah, and their children, Sam (Anne) Rothenbach and Laura (Judd) Anderson; Jane (Phil Eddleston) Gehr, St. Paul, MN; and Jo Letizia, Oshkosh, and her children, Ryan (Katie) and Robyn Letizia; 12 great grandchildren; and brother, Bill (Peg) Haanen.

A Funeral Liturgy will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at ST. GABRIEL CATHOLIC CHURCH, 900 Geiger St, Neenah, with Fr. Larry Seidl officiating. Friends may call directly at the church on Saturday from 11:00 AM until the time of services. Entombment will be at a later date at Highland Memorial Park, Appleton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Fox Valley Memory Project.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff at Heritage Woods for their patient and loving care of Joyce.