Joanne Mae Kraase, 87, went to the Lord on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the late Edwin and Laverne Keller.
Joanne lived her entire life as a faithful Christian and she deeply loved the Lord. At the age of five years old, she went to church with a friend. After that morning, she would get up and go to church by herself every Sunday because she wanted to be there. She never wavered from her childlike faith and loved the Lord her entire life. She was a member of Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Kokomo, Indiana for over 50 years.
While her children were young, Joanne was a caring stay-at-home mother. Once her children went to school, she worked part-time at Haworth High School cafeteria, a job which she loved. Joanne finished her work life as the school secretary for Redeemer Lutheran School in Kokomo, Indiana. After she retired, she and her beloved husband Jerry traveled and enjoyed many great adventures together.
Joanne is survived by her husband of 64 years, Jerome Kraase; her children Pamela (Kent Moraga) Kraase, Kristin (Joe) Butler, Paul (Sarah Stocking) Kraase; grandchildren Erin (James) Ross, Thomas (Stephanie) Fitzpatrick, Elijah (Abby) Butler, Hannah (Matt) Nichols, Isabellah Butler, Noah Semon, and Ivy Semon; eight great-grandchildren; brother Gene (Linda) Keller; sisters Kathryn Kreckel, and Linda (James) Cornetet; brother-in-law Gene Kraase; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family.
A memorial service will take place on June 30, 2026, at 11:30 am at Lutheran Life Villages Memorial Chapel (6701 S. Anthony Blvd.) with calling from 10:00 am until the time of service. Memorial donations may be given to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation or Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Kokomo, Indiana.