JoAnn P. Benbrooks

JoAnn P Benbrooks was born at St Elizabeth’s Hospital in Appleton, WI on March 24, 1939, daughter of Albert Berben and Dorothy Parsons, she was the second eldest of 11 siblings. She attended St Joseph’s school through the ninth grade where she credits the nuns for teaching her what she needed to know to get by in life. JoAnn moved to Florida at the age of 16 with the first of many loves and gave birth to the first of seven children. She traveled and lived in many places, Miami being close to her heart and Appleton always the place she came back home to. She was a housewife, worked in the service industry, and later became a CNA and cared for her dear Clay for almost 20 years before retiring at the age of 70. 

JoAnn loved spending time with her family, meeting for breakfast at the Golden Basket, collecting treasures, and helping family members in need. She tried ballroom dancing, got into the beanie baby craze, and couldn’t get enough of those Korean soap operas.

JoAnn was survived by her son‘s Dan (Sue) Wildt and Terry Wildt, her daughter‘s Sherry(Mark) Chapin and Edie Bohlen Riemer, her grandchildren; Sarah Trapp, Kristopher Dean, Michelle Fieck, Joshua(Mandy) Bohlen, Jenny Rose(Cody) Henson, Cheyenne Wildt, and Samantha Potopa, her sisters; Judy, and Florence, nieces, nephews, and great grandchildren. Also, Ray Benbrooks, who remained her closest friend through the final days of her life.

JoAnn was proceeded in death by her daughter, JoAnn Roman and son, Shawn Benbrooks, her parents, Albert Berben and Dorothy Parsons, stepfather, Mike Deltour and stepmother Millie Berben, Grandma Parsons, sisters; Dede Wreckworth, Sue Steinfeldt, Renee Deltour and brothers, Mike Deltour, Bobby Berben, John Berben, and Dennis Berben.

A funeral service for JoAnn will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. at Verkuilen-Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home, 2401 Fieldcrest Dr., Kaukauna. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. and will continue until the time of the service. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.