Joyce Mary (Asenbauer) Wolfgram

It is with a mix of sorrow and joy that the family of Joyce M. Wolfgram announce her passing at the age of 87. Our sorrow rests in the loss of her life-long presence and the embodiment of love that was our treasured mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, and aunt. Equally, we are grateful that her 19 years of illness and suffering are over and that she has been reunited with her husband of 65 years, Robert (Bob) Wolfgram, son Mike Wolfgram (surviving widow, Deborah), granddaughter Danielle Wolfgram, mother and father Ann Theiss (born Anna Turinski) and Mathias Asenbauer, and other dear friends and family members who have passed through the years.

Joyce is survived by her and Bob’s children: Colleen (Rick) Kalscheuer, Bob (Sue) Wolfgram, Dan (Lori) Wolfgram, Margie (Patrick) Klink, and Jeff (Paige) Wolfgram. They have 15 grandchildren: Tiffany (Mike) Kirchner and Kacie Wolfgram; Ryan and Andy Kalscheuer and Annie (Tony) Randolph; Becky Houston, Sara (Andrew) Nick, and Vince (Brit) and Bobby (Logan) Wolfgram; Kellie and Nick (Becca Lade) Wolfgram; Karrah and Maddie (Brad Strandberg) Klink; Stephanie Joyce Wolfgram; and ten great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Dianne Dorn and many dear nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends, including her life-long card club friends.

Joyce was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and most recently resided at the nursing facility, Franciscan Place in Brookfield, WI, for nearly 19 years.

There is no doubt that Joyce had a heart as big as they come and pulled off countless, near-miraculous feats as a wife and mother. Perhaps her greatest inherent trait was her graceful strength.

In today’s world, without having lived it, it’s difficult to imagine the amount of self-assurance it took for Joyce to graduate from high school, marry the next day, and set off the following day to drive across the country to Albuquerque, NM to begin her new life. Leaving behind her extensive Hollywood autographed photo collection – that includes the likes of very young versions of Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney, and Joan Fontaine – and her perfect penmanship award, Joyce was a mother within a year.

She was a devoted Catholic, having urged Bob to convert before marriage, participated in the Christian Mother’s faith group, and passed the faith of her ancestors along to her children. She experienced some health issues and hospitalizations throughout the early years of married life, after which she said she prayed, “God, you gave me all these kids. Please give me the strength to live long enough to raise them all.” Her prayers were answered in spades.

Throughout her lengthy, often grueling illness, she never complained. Despite the physical and emotional toll on her earthly body, she didn’t lose her sense of humor, or her kindness to others, or her spiritual strength.

What Joyce loved: her many excellent friends; her travels with Bob around the country and the world; the Milwaukee Brewers; curling club; lottery tickets (you just need one!); house hunting; shopping; coupon clipping (like any good Milwaukee woman of her generation); Backgammon; singing and dancing a little while working around the house and listening to ‘70s pop songs, Paul Harvey, and Charley and Shakey on WOKY AM radio.

A Visitation for Joyce will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, with a Mass of Christian Burial at Noon, followed by luncheon, all at St. Charles Catholic Church in Hartland.

The family extends its deepest thanks and love to the staff at Franciscan Place and St. Croix Hospice and Fr. Ken Omernick, Pastor at St. Charles Parish.

Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to St. Charles Parish or Rotary International.