Joan Sharon Barter

Joan Barter, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully at Evergreen Retirement Community in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on Wednesday, November 22nd 2023, at the beautiful age of 92. Joan’s daughters, Karen and Gale, were by her side. Joan was born on March 16th, 1931, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of Caroline and William Gandt.

Life was difficult when Joan was young, as her father passed away from tuberculosis when Joan was only 10 years old, leaving her mother to support Joan and her two sisters on her own, prior to her mother’s second marriage. Joan talked fondly of growing up at Camp Lake, across the road from the Salvation Army campground. She was educated in a one room schoolhouse prior to entering Bradford High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Joan graduated from high school and married Bruce Barter.

Together Joan and Bruce ran a small grocery store, until such time that other opportunities came forward for Bruce, and their two children were born. Joan then became a stay-at-home mom; she took much pride in making a wonderful home for her family. Joan was an avid bridge player. She and Bruce moved with their girls to Lomira, Wisconsin in 1961, and Joan immediately joined a women’s bridge club. She maintained those friendships throughout her life.

Joan and Bruce then bought property near Ashford, Wisconsin, where they enjoyed working a hobby farm. Throughout Joan’s life she loved animals, especially birdwatching. Joan traveled extensively, especially enjoying trips to untamed locations in the Amazon Jungle and Costa Rica. During Bruce and Joan’s trip to the Amazon, Bruce gave Joan the nickname of “Jungle Joan.” Back at home Joan took in orphaned animals including raccoons and foxes - always returning them to the wild. In 1988 Joan bought property in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, where she continued her devotion to nature, gardening, and wildlife - watching the loons on the lake, feeding chipmunks and squirrels by hand along with her favorite bird, the chickadee.

Joan loved entertaining and making others feel comfortable. Joan loved sharing her home in the Northwoods with friends from as far and wide as Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Thailand, England, Japan, Venezuela, and her friends from all over the United States. Joan remained a birdwatcher when she moved from the woods in 2015 to live with her daughter Karen and husband in their home, and then to her delightful room at Evergreen in 2022.

Joan was also a very talented seamstress. She created many treasures for her girls and for her grandchildren; now keepsakes for generations to come. Joan remained a devoted Catholic throughout her life, her faith was constant.

Joan is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Karen Barter (Roger “Dale” Frikart) and Gale (Jimmy) Lichman. She is further survived by her older sister Nanette (Jack) Begino (Buffalo Wyoming) and her youngest brother, William (Stella) Sorensen (Camas Washington). Additionally, Joan is survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Gwen O’Loughlin - Simon and Remy; Timothy (Pamela) O’Loughlin - Miles and Maci; Jay (Melissa) Lichman - Jalissa; Chee (Zong) Vang - Leon, Xavier, and Ashton; Teeley (Nkao) Vang - Syrena, Adrian, Amelia, Everly, and Nolan; Tom Vang - Jhaedyn. Joan is further survived by her foreign exchange student son - Fernando Barros, from Brasilia, Brazil. Joan remains loved by so many other extended family and friends.

Joan was preceded in death by so many beautiful, loving, family and friends, including her youngest sister Marian Gyurina and a younger brother Jerome Sorensen. She is surely welcomed in Heaven by so many loved ones.

Joan’s family would like to say a special thank you for the loving care and support she received from the Evergreen staff and Saint Raphael parish.

A memorial mass for Joan will be held at Saint Raphael Parish in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, December 6th at noon. A visitation will be held from 11:30 until time of service.