Joan Emily Evans, 85, of Sheboygan, passed away Sunday, September 27, 2026 at Sheboygan Senior Community where she had been residing.
Joan, always one to make a grand entrance, was born on June 5, 1941 in her grandfather’s borrowed car, (because it was faster) racing along on Highway 2 to the hospital in Ashland, Wisconsin. She was the third of four daughters brought into this world by Willard and Valeria (née Schmitz) Van Ouwerkerk who homesteaded a potato farm in rural Gurney, Wisconsin. To this day the waterfall at the back of the property (Potato Falls) is referred to by locals as Willard’s Falls. Joan attended a one-room schoolhouse in Gurney until the family moved to Sheboygan Falls when she was nine years old. Joan went to Catholic school at St. Mary’s in Sheboygan Falls, which was a big change from being a farm girl in rural northern Wisconsin.
Always a free spirit, while in high school she went on a blind date with two of her girlfriends (she was 15) in Milwaukee to meet three sailors who just graduated from boot camp. She told her folks she was going to the Milwaukee Public Library. Joan graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School in 1959. After graduation she attended airline stewardess school in Kansas City, “looking to marry a pilot”.
Not long after returning home, the sailor she met on that blind date years before came to visit her, as he just got out of the Navy. Joanie fell in love and married her blind date Charles Evans and together they had three children, a daughter Polly Anna, and sons Kerk and Kelly. After Polly Anna’s death due to severe Cerebral Palsy, Joan and Chuck divorced in 1968.
Joan returned to Sheboygan and worked as a waitress at Schultz’s Restaurant. She then took on other clerical roles, but landed her life-changing job with Gottsacker Insurance. At Gottsacker Insurance she earned her insurance industry licenses and other accolades, but her relationships with her co-workers and customers were what she cherished most. During this time Joan purchased her favorite car (a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda) and her little house on North 7th street, which she called home for 48 years. She did her best to raise her boys in the Catholic faith and followed them throughout their sports activities, and life’s milestones.
Joan was a member of St. Dominic’s Catholic Parish, proudly served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, was a passionate dog lover and adopted four dogs from the Humane Society. She was a Brewer and Packer fan and had to referee the never-ending Packer/Bear game rivalries between her sons when both teams were lousy.
Joan is survived by her sons Kerk (Lisa) of Sheboygan, Kelly (Michele) of rural Mosinee, her sister Janet of Sheboygan Falls, grandsons Ian, Grant (Danica), Mason, and Clayton, great-granddaughter Vera Joan, along with many nieces and nephews.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents Willard and Valeria, her sisters Betty and Helen, her former husband Chuck, and her daughter Polly Anna.
There will be a visitation on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12th St., Sheboygan, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 12:00 p.m.
Joan’s family would like to recognize the years of care and love provided by the incredible staff of Sheboygan Senior Community, especially Tanya and Michelle during the last few days.
In lieu of flowers, donations made to Big Brothers / Big Sisters or Sheboygan Senior Community would be greatly appreciated.
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