Joanne E. Meier

Joanne E. Meier, age 87, of Appleton, WI passed away on June 18, 2021, at Thedacare Regional Medical Center Appleton. Joanne was born June 27, 1933 in Tomahawk, the daughter of the late Milan and Carol (Hatch) Dorwin. She graduated from Minocqua High School in 1951, then went on to receive her B.S. in Education from UW-Madison in 1955 and her M.S. in Educational Psychology from UW-Milwaukee in 1967.

Joanne spent 33-1/2 years as an educator. She began her career as a Spanish and English teacher in Oconomowoc. Later she was a senior high school guidance counselor in Denmark, WI and then in the Appleton Area School District for 30 challenging and rewarding years mostly at her beloved Appleton-West. She earned the East Central Wisconsin Counseling Association Award in 1997 and the Appleton-West H.H. Helble Outstanding Educator in 1998.

She loved travel, music, theatre, opera, nature, walking and working in her yard. In retirement she also enjoyed assisting first graders in reading through Appleton’s United for Reading Success and the many varied activities offered by the UW-Oshkosh Learning in Retirement program. For many years Joanne has communicated with and assisted a young girl from Kenya with financial and other gifts through Child Fund.

Joanne is survived by her daughter Laurie (Dave), of Topanga, CA, sons Lee and Keith of Kaukauna, grandsons Brent and Ming of Kaukauna and Andy (Casie) of Shiocton, and great grandchildren Samuel and Liviana also of Shiocton.

Mom was a wonderful grandmother and great grandmother who was loved by everyone she knew. She made the world a better place.

At her request, there will be no memorial service. Memorials in Joanne’s name may be made to the Appleton Education Foundation which will be given to Appleton-West High School.