Joan Joyce Rogers

Joan Joyce Rogers, age 92, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2026. Born on April 1, 1933, Joan lived a long, full life marked by hard work and a gift for bringing people together.

Joan was known for her competitive spirit at the cribbage table, her love of bowling, and her unwavering loyalty to the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers, and watching professional golf. Whether she was cheering on her teams or talking through the latest game, she brought enthusiasm and personality to every season.

On December 6, 1952, Joan married Ed (Bud) Rogers. Together they built a family and a lifetime of memories.

A longtime member of First United Methodist Church, Neenah, Joan lived a life grounded in faith, kindness, and community. For many years, she ran the Owl Restaurant in Neenah, a beloved gathering place in the community for Friday night fish-fry, and later worked at Bookland, where she was employed until her retirement. She had a remarkable talent in the kitchen—give her a handful of leftovers or a few pantry staples, and she could turn them into a complete, comforting meal. Cooking was one of her love languages, and she shared it generously.

Joan also cherished the friendships she made in her apartment community. She loved spending time with her neighbors, sharing stories, laughter, and companionship. Socializing with her ‘apartment family’ brought her great joy and added warmth to her later years.

She had a deep appreciation for travel and nature. A favorite was visiting the Joshua Trees in southern California. Ever unafraid to try new things, she once learned to pull apart crawfish and eat them, and—after a margarita—went all in on a spicy Mexican meal that became a favorite family memory.

Joan loved visiting her kids and grandkids, making countless trips filled with conversation, laughter, and the simple joy of being together. Those visits were among her happiest moments.

She had many nieces and nephews whom she adored and often spoke of as if they were her own children. Their visits, calls, and memories held a special place in her heart.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Ed (Bud) Rogers; her parents, William and Grace Sperberg; sisters Ethel and Jean; and brothers Irvin, Roland, Victor, Gordon, and Merten.

She is survived by her sister, Pat Gruetzmacher of Shawano; daughters Lynette (Duane) Luneau of Menasha and Kathy (Jim) Marshall of Ft. Atkinson; sons Gene (Babs) Rogers of Canton, MS; and Jeff (Kathy) Rogers of Canyon, TX. Joan was blessed with seven grandchildren—Kris (Whitney) Luneau, Dan (Linda) Luneau, Josh Marshall, Breann Rogers, Holly (Broc) Rogers, Carson (Tayler) Rogers, and Seth Rogers—and seven great‑grandchildren: McKoy, Bayler, Quinn, Grayson, Knox, Finley, and Sawyer. Great‑grandchild number eight is expected to arrive on Joan’s April 1 birthday.

A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel, 123 E Wisconsin Ave, Neenah, Wisconsin, on Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 1 PM to 4 PM.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of Compassus Hospice and Cornerstone Caregiving for the compassionate care they provided during the past couple of weeks.

Joan’s life was defined by resilience, generosity, and a knack for making others feel at home. Her presence, her humor, and her steady kindness will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Because Joan’s deep support for veterans of our armed forces—in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Old Glory Honor Flight: https://www.oldgloryhonorflight.org/support/financial-support/