Marie Joyce Wanless

Monday, January 11, 2016 4:44 pm

Marie Joyce Wanless, 96, of Reedsburg, Wis. passed on to eternal life Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, at the Reedsburg Area Senior Life Center in Reedsburg. A Mass of Christian Burial was at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 624 N Willow St, Reedsburg, with Father Jay Poster officiating and Deacon Tom Hale assisting. A visitation was Tuesday, Jan. 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hoof Funeral Home, 312 N Park St, Reedsburg where a scripture service was at 3:45 p.m.  There also was visitation at the church Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. until the service. Interment was in the Greenwood Cemetery, Reedsburg. The Hoof Funeral Home is serving the family.
The third of 11 children, Marie was born Feb. 12, 1919, in the Town of Rockbridge, Richland County, Wis. to Erma (Kitson) and John Henry (Harry) Joyce. She graduated from Richland Center High School and then Richland County Normal. Marie received both her bachelors and master’s degrees in education from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. Marie married Gale Lowell Wanless, also a teacher, in Richland Center, Wis. Jan. 31, 1942. Seven children were born of this union: Connie, Jeanette, Mark, Patsy, Paul, Susan and Eric. Throughout the years Gale and Marie had many opportunities in their professional careers in education. During their married life they lived in Blue River, West Lima, Hancock, Platteville, Oxford, Adams, Viroqua, and Reedsburg, Wis. Marie began teaching at the Log Chain School, a one room rural school in Bear Valley, Wis. She went on to teach at Melanthon Creek School, Yuba; West Lima School, West Lima; Bethel Grove School, Belmont; Adams Grade School, Adams; Vernon County Schools, Viroqua; Reedsburg Elementary Schools, Reedsburg, Wis. Throughout her life Marie was devoted to her family and the cause of education. Marie was also very involved in civic and community activities. She was active as a Girl Scout leader, 4-H leader, and Sauk County ARC. Marie served on the Reedsburg Library Board and a Sauk County Human Services Board Committee. She belonged to Adams County Homemakers, Retired Wisconsin and Sauk County Educators, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Reedsburg. Marie was a strong proponent of quality special education. Marie was proud of her Irish heritage and spent much time researching genealogy for both her family and Gale’s family. She was known within the family as the authority on genealogy.
She is survived by her children: Connie (Michael) Holzinger, of Reedsburg, Jeanette (Jerry) Jessop, of LaValle, Mark (Judith) Wanless, of Edgerton, Patsy (Bill) Wanless-Voltura, of Elkhorn, Paul (Sarah) Wanless, of Decorah, Susan (Greg) Sexton, of West St. Paul, Minn. and Eric Wanless, of Reedsburg. Further surviving Marie are her grandchildren: Jamie Holzinger, Marie (Ben) Waddell, Ryan (Emily) Wanless, Erica (Scott) Rheinschmidt, Kathryn (Bill) Reynders, Alissa (Michael) Sabers, Christopher Wanless, Riley Sexton, and Emmett Sexton; great-grandchildren surviving are: Trent and Nora Waddell, Molly, Kathryn, and Jackson Rheinschmidt, Emma Sabers, Elizabeth Reynders. Also surviving are sisters, Joan (Thomas) Sinniger, La Crosse and Louise Foster, Madison, Wis.; brother, Patrick (Karen) Joyce, Cambridge, Wis.; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law: Marge Joyce and Irene Joyce, Richland Center, Elaine Anderson, Blue River, John (Nancy) Wanless, Hillsboro, Wis.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Erma and Harry Joyce; her husband, Gale L. Wanless; her brothers: James (and wife Avis) Joyce, Thomas Joyce, Joseph Joyce and Emmett Joyce; her sisters and their spouses: Eleanor (William) Jambois, Kathryn (Warner Sponaugle/ Leonard Gilden) Gilden Sponaugle and Lorraine (Donald) Brazones. She was also preceded in death by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Donald Foster, Gerald (Helen) Wanless, Gordon (Marion) Wanless, Eathel (Eugene) Couey, Evelyn Pippin Bergman (George Pippin/Fred Bergman).
Marie was a strong, independent, woman who lived a full life, with lots of love given and returned.  She was a wonderful and amazing person.