Frances Joan Manke was born June 24, 1936 to Joseph and Berthe Eder in Amery, WI. She was better known as Joan or Joanie to her family and friends. Joan grew up in Georgetown township, she attended the Blake Lake school and then graduated from Milltown High School.

On June 11, 1955 she was united in marriage to Christopher Manke. The lived in Minneapolis in the beginning of their life together. They moved numerous time for Chris’s job, Buffalo, New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Byron, St. Paul & eventually moving back to the farm in Georgetown that they purchased from Joan’s parents.

Joan was a wife, mother, grandmother & great grandmother. She was a friend to many and she had many talents and passions. Joan was a caretaker, an artist, cabinet maker, a seamstress, she also reupholstered furniture and repurposed furniture.

Joan had a passion for gardening, baking & cooking. Joan and Chris enjoyed having people over for meals, playing cards, going for car rides and stopping somewhere for a piece of pie and coffee.

Joan passed away June 26, 2025, at the age of 89. She was preceded in death by her son Edward Manke, daughter Loraine Manke and her husband Christopher Manke. Her parents Joseph & Berthe Eder and uncle John Eder.

She is survived by her children Jane Manke, Jerry Manke, Jeff (Cristy) Manke, Jim (Lisa) Manke, Joanie Manke (Shann). 11 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren. Joan’s sister Azalea Wright, brother Joseph (Barbara) Eder, brother-in-law Jerry Manke, sister-in-law Arlene Marquette and many nieces and nephews, cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church (507 W Main St, Balsam Lake, WI 54810) with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM.

Last Update: Jul 14, 2025 7:31 am CDT