Joan Marilyn Melcher

Joan Marilyn (Kuharski) Melcher, 75, of De Pere, passed away Saturday, February 11, 2023. Joan was born November 6, 1947, in Minneapolis, MN to the late Harold and Florence (Wratkowski) Kuharski. On December 13, 1975, Joan married James Melcher in Bettendorf, IA. They made their home in Bettendorf and later in Des Moines. There, they welcomed their three daughters Amy, Amanda, and Liz into their family. In 1989, they relocated to De Pere where they made their new home.

Joan started her career as a respiratory therapist. She was an avid reader and appreciated sharing that love with schoolchildren when she later worked as a library aide in the De Pere school district. She also was fond of road trips, daily walks, shopping, and card games. She was great at arts and crafts, gardening, crocheting, and especially cooking. Her grandchildren and her dog, Brodie, were incredible sources of joy in her life. She will be missed by those who so greatly benefited from her devotion.

Joan is survived by her husband, Jim; her daughters: Amy (Blake) Gudbaur, Amanda (Andy) Cornelissen, and Liz (Matt) Gross; her grandchildren: Rafe and Kali Gudbaur and Luke and Anna Cornelissen; her sisters: Terri (Oscar) Slinde and Mary (Bill) Kohlschmidt; and her brother John (Mary Ann) Kuharski.

Family and friends may visit on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, from 5 pm until 6:45 pm at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N. Webster Avenue, De Pere, WI 54115. The funeral service for Joan will begin at 7 pm at the funeral home.