After a full life of 88 years, Joan Blondel Ostroski, peacefully entered eternal life on July 8, 2023, with daughter Julie holding her hand. She was born December 4, 1934, in Wausau, WI, the oldest of Casimir and Tillie Stralkowski's four children. She attended St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Wausau High School in 1953. On July 28, 1956, Joan married her high school sweetheart, George Ostroski at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wausau, WI. She and George set a fine example of commitment to their marriage vows, sharing (nearly) 59 years of marriage. Joan was a devout Catholic and lifelong parishioner of St. Therese Church. She was the loving mother of 5 children, Jeffrey, Karen, Julie, Gregory, and Mary, arriving in two batches. Her and George's enduring legacy is that they raised their children in the Christian faith, sacrificing to send them to parochial school, and fostering their relationship with God.

As a young wife and mother, Joan was determined to complete her degree in Elementary Education from the University of WI Stevens Point. Her college graduation was a proud moment for her and her family! She taught at St. Therese Catholic School and Rothschild Elementary School. She loved teaching 4th grade and one of her sons-in-law, Max, was a former student. She put her teaching career on hold when the two youngest children, Greg and Mary, joined the family. When the nest was empty, she resumed her career as a substitute teacher. She remarked with a smile how she liked earning "$100 a day for bossing little kids around." She made the school day fun for the kids by sharing her travel adventures and photos with them, because "some of them never travel anywhere." Drawn pictures and notes given to her by students, stating she was their favorite sub adorn her refrigerator and basement door.

Joan was devoted to her family, remarking often how glad she was that she had her 5 children ("And I didn't plan any of you!"). She appreciated the homes George designed and worked so hard to build and maintain for her and the kids. Family was very important to Joan and George. They helped care for their elderly parents and relatives. In the past, they lived months at a time with their late daughter Mary and her family at naval cities around the country after helping them move and during Mary's illness. She and George were selfless, and devoted much time, effort, and talent assisting their late daughter and family during their times of need. Joan gave as much as she could, despite her age, working herself to exhaustion.

Joan had an inquisitive nature, always wanting to see what was around corner. She planned all the family trips around the United States, made affordable by staying at campgrounds she would find along the way listed in the AAA guidebooks. She had a wander lust which led her to visit all 50 states, Europe, Poland, Scotland, Canada, and Mexico. Happy memories were shared and new memories made camping with family and friends in state and national parks. She looked forward to annual family gatherings at Peninsula State Park in Door County. It was a blessing her final vacation was with her family in Peninsula State Park only days before her hospitalization. She was the hostess and cook for so many large family gatherings through the years. She made receiving the sacraments, holidays, birthdays, graduations, and the day after our weddings special family occasions.

Joan's social nature enabled her to make friends easily and she had many girlfriends she enjoyed chumming around with, shopping, playing canasta, learning new things at the Y, or cutting coupons. She looked forward to meeting extended family and longtime friends at church picnics, polka fests, and fall dinners. She enjoyed picnics, camping, going for lunch or coffee, and sitting by any body of water. Joan had a variety of interests that kept her busy. She read, crafted, sewed, tried new recipes, and made memory books of her travels and her many photographs. She always had her camera ready to capture a candid shot.

Joan did lots of snail mail correspondence spreading happiness by sending cards and letters with jokes, cartoons, and stickers inside and sometimes even a bit of cash! She liked brightening others' days by giving a laugh, which she said was good medicine. She liked giving books she would inscribe as gifts. She did, as Mother Teresa said, small things with great love.

Joan appreciated the simple pleasures in life. She often said she did not need fancy, expensive things to be happy. She was grateful to receive a card or letter in the mailbox. She enjoyed reading magazines on her front porch, sitting by the lake, eating chocolate covered peanuts or having a bowl of ice cream in the evening. Her sister, Peggy, told Joan that she had packed a lot into her life and Joan agreed. She often said, "I'm glad we did all that."

Despite the grief she endured beginning in 2014 after losing so many family members and friends in such a short period of time, she persevered, relying on her faith and doing her best to keep a positive attitude. Her sense of humor helped her cope with all the sadness. She liked to say, "We have to be like the Energizer Bunny and keep going and going."

Joan is survived by her sons, Jeffrey and Gregory Ostroski, and daughter, Julie (Max) Dassler, son-in-law Mark Moreno, 11 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, brother Mike (Karen) Stralkowski, and brothers-in-law Vern Koppa and Paul Kent, and many nieces and nephews.

Joan was predeceased by her parents, daughters Mary Moreno and Karen Lonsdorf, daughter-in-law Sharon Ostroski, and two sisters Geraldine Koppa and Peggy Kent.

Celebration of mass will be at St. Therese Catholic Church, 113 W Kort St., Rothschild, WI, on Tuesday, July 25, at 11 a.m. with Fr. Joseph Albert Saleth officiating. The rosary will be said in the church at 9 a.m. Visitation will be in the church gathering space from 9:30 a.m. until the time of mass. Joan will be laid to rest at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Kronenwetter after mass. A reception will follow in the banquet room at John J. Buettgen Funeral Home, 900 Old HWY 51, Mosinee, WI.

We love you, Mom/Grama. Until we are all together again, we will miss you.

John J. Buettgen Funeral home is assisting family at this time. Online condolences can be made to HonorOne.com