Joan Ann Rugen

Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother Joan Rugen peacefully went home to the Lord on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at the age of 96. Joan was born on July 27, 1926, in Reedsville, Wisconsin, to Anna and Albert Novak.

She married Roland (Jay) Rugen on June 14,1952 in Chicago, Illinois, and they were the loving parents of two daughters, Dawn and Diane. They enjoyed nearly sixty-five wonderful years of marriage together before his passing in 2017.

In her early years, Joan worked as a dental assistant. Upon the birth of their daughters, Joan enjoyed spending her time as a homemaker and was an active volunteer in both the local Catholic school and church. Joan enjoyed cruise travel around the world with her husband, spending time with family, being a treasured "Nana" to three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, baking, playing piano and cards, attending plays, knitting and needlepoint, spending time exploring town and enjoying the garden with her daughter Dawn, and being a sports enthusiast. She was a woman of deep faith her whole life and held a particular fondness in her heart for the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom she would pray fervently to in the knowledge that Jesus never refuses the intercession of his precious mother. Joan was greatly loved and admired by her family and community, and will be immensely missed by so many.

Having resided in the Chicago suburbs for all her life, Joan and her husband moved to Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, in 2009, where they enjoyed several happy years together.

She spent her final months at Shorehaven of Oconomowoc. Her loved ones are deeply grateful for the extraordinary care and love provided to her by Shorehaven’s amazing staff, who became like family.

She is survived by daughters Dawn Puetz (Michael, Sr.) of Oconomowoc, and Diane DeSalvo (Dan) of Elmhurst, IL; grandchildren Loralee Joan Horn (Ryan) of Johnson City, TN, Michael Puetz, Jr., of Columbus, OH, and Alina Miller (Dave) of Henderson, NV; great-grandchildren Laila Horn and Brooke Miller; special family friend Karen Bartel, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her loving husband Jay, she was preceded in eternal rest by her brother, Ivan Novak.

The family will hold a private liturgy and celebration of life, with arrangements handled by Pagenkopf Funeral Home.