Joanne Drinkwine

Joanne M. Drinkwine

December 25, 1938 – January 7, 2024

Born on Christmas Day 1938, to Leon and Mary (Verkeyn) Vandenberghe. She lived in Superior, WI and was a proud graduate of Cathedral High School class of 1956. She remained close friends with several classmates throughout her life. On October 27, 1957, she married Clifford “Buzz” Drinkwine, beginning their 52-year married life, each loving and caring deeply for the other. In 1958 they relocated to Beloit, WI and a couple years later settled in the Madison area for good. She and Cliff committed themselves to their two children, Francis (Margaret) Drinkwine and Susan (Steven) Schmidt, instilling values of faith and family above all. And always showing through their example the value of honesty and hard work, with many important life lessons and good laughs in between.

Joanne always put others before herself—as a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Most conversations started with, “How are the kids?” Family was the center of her joy. She and Cliff logged countless thousands of miles to attend baptisms, birthdays, graduations, weddings, and just about anything else that involved family and close friends. On those trips, she served as chief navigator—back when maps had to be folded and were handed out at the corner gas station!

She was a caregiver for her family, friends, and untold others from infants to the elderly, including right up to her final months in the care community where she lived. Her kind generous heart always did the talking. And just as she loved her family, she loved being surrounded by her plants—fruit trees and vines, vegetables, and flowers. Daily she would walk around the yard visiting each plant as if seeing a good friend (weeds feared for their lives!). There was no such thing as a plant she couldn’t nurture back to beauty.

Joanne worked while raising a family, including at Sears Roebuck, UW Madison, and the Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue over the years. Following retirement, she and Cliff together built their business, Capital Carving Supplies. Joanne was organizer, inventory manager, and customer “caregiver.”  And of course, chief navigator as they crisscrossed the Midwest to countless carving shows, usually with a family or friend visit added to honor what was most important to them.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Waunakee was a focal point of her daily existence. She regularly attended morning Mass before heading to Silver Sneakers, and brought communion to residents at Waunakee Manor. She enjoyed participating in events with Madison Catholic Woman’s Club and the Waunakee Senior Center. Joanne loved being around people!

Joanne is survived by her children, Francis (Margaret) and Susan (Steven), grandchildren, Brad (Shannon), Krista (Greg), Jason (Shelby), Patrick (Jessica), Rieta (Trevor), and great grandchildren, Owen, Brysen, Raelyn, Ayla, and Saylor, and her brother Donald (Jeanne) Vandenberghe. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Leon Vandenberghe; Husband, Cliff; their infant children, Mary and Joseph; and sister, Marlene (Robert) Ekstrom.

Funeral service swill be held on Monday Jan. 15, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St John’s Catholic Church 209 South St. Waunakee. Friends may call at the church on Monday from 9:30 a.m until the time of services. A private entombment will take place at Highland Memory Gardens in Cottage Grove.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Waunakee, https://www.stjb.org/, the Agrace Hospice Foundation, Madison, WI, https://www.agrace.org/donate/donate-today/, or Alzheimer’s Association – WI Chapter.

Winn-Cress Funeral Home

5785 Hwy Q

Waunakee, WI