JoAnn Diederich Wagner
ARLINGTON–JoAnn F. Wagner, 80, of N1290 County Road Q, Arlington, passed away on October 24, 2022 at the Homestead Living memory care center in Waunakee. She spent the last several months of her life holding the hand of her husband Bill, the love of her life, and in the company of her children and grandchildren.
She was born JoAnn Frances Diederich in Middleton on May 4, 1942 to Anthony P. and Edna Marie (Mani) Diederich. In 1960, she graduated from Middleton High School where she was a member of Future Homemakers of America (FHA), Girls Athletic Association (GAA), chorus, and the girl's glee club. The inscription next to her senior portrait in the yearbook said, "A real live-wire with plenty of go."
After graduation, JoAnn was employed at UW-Madison Hospital and married Eugene "Gene" A. Bennett on February 3, 1962 at Saint Luke's Lutheran Church in Middleton. The couple had two children, Brian and Kelly. Later, she married William "Bill" Wagner on Sept. 15, 1973 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Leeds, Wisconsin, and became parents of Joelle and Billie. The couple raised the four children on the family dairy farmstead in rural Arlington, where Bill also had a cash crop business for many years.
JoAnn dedicated her entire life to bringing joy to her family. If you spent any time at all with JoAnn, you knew she had undying love for her family, a sharp wit (somewhat sassy) and that she had stars in her eyes for her grandchildren and great children. If you asked each child separately who was "Mom's favorite," he or she would all secretly say they were. JoAnn had the ability to make each child or grandchild think they were the most important person in the world.
She is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Bill Wagner of Arlington; her beloved children: Brian (Jane) Bennett of Lodi, Kelly (Mark Weden) Bennett of DeForest, Joelle (Kevin) Lockwood of Cross Plains, and Billie Jo "BJ" (Bryan) Wagner of Fall River; her cherished grandchildren: Earl (Megan), Nathan, Malorie (Josh), Jessie (Ben), Cole (Payton), Lexi, Kelsey (Matt), Remington (Quinlan), Will, Larissa, Austin, Alex, Jacob, and Matthew; and her five precious great-granddaughters: Isabella, Lillyanna, Olivia, Natti, and Layla. She is also survived by her siblings: Annette Thomas of Gainesville, Florida, Peter Diederich of Madison, Anthony Francis (Laura) Diederich of Dodgeville, Kathy (Howard) of Waunakee, John of DeForest, and Dale (Mary Beth) of Arlington; along with many nieces, nephews, and close friends.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony Diederich (May 12, 1953) and Edna Diederich Aeschliman (Oct. 2, 2003); her five siblings: Mary Edna Holden Brock, James "Jimmy" C. Diederich, LeRoy Diederich, Susan K. Diederich, and Lawrence "Larry" Aeschliman; as well as her father in-law and mother-in-law, William "Bill" and Mary Wagner; her former husband, Gene Bennett (Sept. 13, 1997); and her step-father, Ernest G. Aeschliman (June 15, 2006).
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on October 28, 2022 at Zion Lutheran Church, W6906 County Road K in Arlington, with visitation conducted from 10 a.m. until the time of service. A cremation interment followed at Zion Lutheran Cemetery. A Celebration of Life for JoAnn will be held at a later date.
The family wishes to give special thanks to Dr. Susanne K. Seeger of UW-Madison Hospital and Clinics for JoAnn's exceptional care, and appreciation for Pam Acker, Pat Haack, and Makayla Murphy who brightened her days, as well as thanks to the staff at Homestead Living, and to all of the friends who stopped by to visit with JoAnn.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to UW-Madison Neurology Clinic, the charity of your choice, or send your mother flowers and tell her how much you love her. Ryan Funeral Home, 6924 Lake Road, Windsor, assisted the grieving family.
