Joyce A. DeJong

Joyce DeJong, age 73, passed away on Friday evening, July 3, 2015 at Kindred Hearts in Kaukauna. Joyce was born in Oshkosh on October 5, 1941, daughter of the late Stanley and Verna (Charapata) Gogolewski. She was a 1959 graduate of Oshkosh High School, and received a degree in Physical Education from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh in 1963. On April 25, 1970, she married Frank DeJong. The couple enjoyed forty-two wonderful years together until his death in 2012. Joyce was a very active woman who loved sports of all kinds. Many will remember the years she taught physical education in the Freedom School District. She was also an incredible fast-pitch softball player in her younger years, and loved to golf, shoot pool, and bowl. When her sons were young, she was an avid fan of the various sporting events they participated in and attended as many of them as possible. More recently she could usually be found in the stands cheering on her grandchildren. She was an original board member of Kaukauna Youth Baseball and enjoyed fishing, playing cards, making crafts, doing wood-working projects, spending time with her friends, and baking cookies with the grand-kids. Joyce was also a longtime and faithful member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kaukauna where she volunteered on the Octoberfest Committee. During the years that she lived up north, she was a volunteer at the Oconto Falls Hospital.

Joyce is survived by three sons: Greg (Tracy) DeJong of Grand Chute, Jeff DeJong of Kaukauna, and Steven (Billie Jo) DeJong of Freedom; six grandchildren: Tia, Lili, Jayce, Kristen, Brittney, and Danielle; a brother: Bob (Mary) Gogolewski of Stoughton; a sister-in-law: Betty Hietpas of Kaukauna; and a brother-in-law: Ken Romenesko of Appleton. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her in-laws: Rosie Romenesko, Corneal DeJong, Ardene (Ed) Welhouse, and Don Hietpas.

The funeral liturgy for Joyce will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 9, 2015, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 309 Desnoyer Street in Kaukauna, with Fr. Tom Pomeroy officiating. Interment will follow at St. Nicholas Cemetery in Freedom. The family will receive relatives and friends at the Fargo Funeral Home, 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, on Wednesday from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM, and again at the church on Thursday morning from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. There will be a prayer service at the funeral home at 7:00 PM Wednesday. Memories may be shared and condolences offered by visiting www.wichmannfargo.com.

The family would like to offer their sincere thanks to the caregivers who watched over Joyce these last months. They include everyone at Kindred Hearts in Kaukauna and ThedaCare At Home Hospice. We will never forget your kindness.