Joanne Ruth Johnson Foley Voss

In Loving Memory of Joanne Ruth Johnson Foley Voss

Joanne Ruth Johnson Foley Voss, a beloved matriarch, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2024, surrounded by her loving family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was 94 years old. Her remarkable journey through life, rich with experiences, has left an indelible mark on all who knew her. While we will miss her deeply, we take comfort in knowing she has found her eternal peace.

Born on February 8, 1930, in Sandusky, Ohio, Joanne was the third of three children to Clayton B. and Ruth V. Johnson (née Strauss). Growing up during the Great Depression instilled in her a tenacity and resilience that would define her life. After moving to Elgin, Illinois, Joanne completed her education and began her career at the Elgin Watch Company, where she met her future husband, Matthew O. Foley Jr. They married on October 20, 1951.

Joanne and Matt welcomed their first four daughters in just four years, moving across states due to Matt’s sales career. After three more relocations, they settled in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, where they welcomed their youngest children—a son and another daughter. Tragically, Matt passed away on February 16, 1965, following open-heart surgery, leaving Joanne to raise their six children, aged 2 to 11, on her own. Despite the immense sorrow, Joanne embraced her role as the family matriarch with unwavering strength. She ensured that all her children received a quality education while working diligently as a legal secretary, first at Zafis and Rummel, then at General Electric, where she transitioned from the engineering to the legal department, always seeking opportunities to support her family.

Years later, a blind date introduced her to Clair H. Voss, a widower and judge in Waukesha. They married on June 12, 1980, at St. Jerome’s Church in Oconomowoc. This union brought together a blended family of ten children, allowing Joanne to enjoy travel and cherished family gatherings. Clair’s passing on August 10, 1999, marked another profound loss, yet Joanne’s resilience shone through as she continued to inspire those around her.

Joanne became a grandmother in 1978 and a great-grandmother in 2012, reveling in her role as a nurturing matriarch. She loved hosting holiday gatherings, traveling, cheering for Wisconsin sports teams, cooking and baking for her grandchildren, staying active, and playing bridge. Above all, Joanne embodied beauty, grace, strength, hard work, tenacity, and dignity—traits that have inspired generations.

Joanne is preceded in death by her husbands, Matthew O. Foley and the Honorable Clair H. Voss; her parents, Clayton and Ruth Johnson; her brother Jim and his wife June; her sister Jacqueline and her husband John; her niece Cheryl Johnson; and her step-children Tom and Kathy Voss.

She is survived by her six children: Lisa Clay Foley, Linda (Brian) Hoffman, Sue (EJ Hunt) Foley, Missy (John) Van Lieshout, Matthew Foley III, and Megan (Greg Messling) Foley; and her step-children: Polly (Ted) Ferrara, Michael (Barbara) Voss, and Pat (Margie) Voss. Joanne also leaves behind 11 cherished grandchildren and their spouses, 3 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren.

Joanne had a certain catchphrase for her daughters, that they’d like to wish her in her passing: “Put some lipstick on and comb your hair, Mom. Dad has been waiting 60 years in eternity for you. We love you.”

A private family burial will be held at a later date in Oconomowoc.