Joan Day, age 83 of Dalton, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

Joan was born April 23, 1940, in Farmington, Minnesota the daughter of Harry and Marie (Schindler) Schleeter. A 1958 graduate of Richfield High School, Minnesota; she married William Day on June 9, 1962, and soon after moved to Wisconsin. She wore many hats during her lifetime as a daughter, wife, mother, foster mom, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She worked in a wide variety of occupations including being a top-performing account executive for Broadway Equipment, a quality control inspector for Rayovac, an employee of Wisconsin Cheeseman, a tour guide for WPDR radio trips, in food service – both as a waitress at Crestwood Inn and as lead cook for Fort Winnebago Elementary School; all on top of her ongoing role as co-owner of the family farm in rural Dalton. During the years leading to her retirement, she was co-owner of City Cab in Portage where she balanced managerial duties with spending countless hours behind the wheel transporting customers.

Joan had a big heart and consistently would reach out to care for those caught in difficult circumstances by making sure they had a place to stay, clean clothes to wear, and a warm meal in their belly. She lived by the philosophy that there is always room for one more. While raising her own boys, she also fostered 26 other children. Joan loved the holidays and sharing the holidays with those people that couldn't get out on their own, so while running City Cab, she would set up a van to take people to see the neighborhoods with Christmas lights. There was never a person Joan met that wasn't considered a friend. Joan was a very encouraging and upbeat person and made it a point to always deliver positive messages to the managers of those who provided great service to her. Joan's out-going personality and sense of humor brought life and a smile to all those she encountered. One of her favorite pastimes was playing card games – she was an avid and super-competitive euchre, bingo, and cribbage player and would never pass up a game!

Joan is survived by her sons, Thomas (Diane) Day of Hillsborough, CA; Allan (Barbara) Day of Xenia, OH; and David Knesting of Dalton, WI; twin-sister, Jean Johnson of Mesa, AZ and brother, Harry Schleeter of Minneapolis, MN; 8 grandchildren: Nathan (Emily) Day of Castro Valley, CA; Michele (Ryan Peterson) Day of Hillsborough, CA; Chrystianna (Jeff) Robinson of Towson, MD; Danielle (Matthew) Schaefer of Vinton, OH; Eriksen Day of Centerville, OH; Francesca Day of Xenia, OH; Gabriel Day of Centerville, OH; Hudson Day of Centerville, OH; 7 great-grandchildren: Romo, Witten, Everseen, and Bryant Robinson of Towson, MD; Willow, Elowen, and Rowan Schaefer of Vinton, OH; many dear nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Paul George of Endeavor, WI. Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Marie Schleeter; husband, William Day; and siblings: Barbara, Peggy, John, Robert, and William.

The family is planning a "Celebration of Life" open house from 12 noon to 3:00 pm on Friday, November 24, 2023, at 717 Jones St, Portage, Wisconsin.