Service Details
A graveside service will be held at Raymond Seventh Day Adventist Cemetery, 4947 108th Street, Franksville, WI 53126 on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
Born in Racine, WI to Della Marie and Laurence J Jacobsen, raised by Della Marie and Charles Hoffman.
Joanne lived a full and exciting life before being diagnosed in 2005 with Multiple Sclerosis. Joanne married early in life to Les Curtis Sr. on June 10, 1976, and shortly thereafter followed him in his military service to Germany where she gave birth to her sons, Les and Josh. Upon return to the US, she lived a short time in Fort Benning Georgia before returning to her family in Racine WI, where she gave birth to her youngest, her daughter Heidi.
Before her diagnosis, Joanne loved being outdoors, helping others, and baking. Joanne’s faith led her to maintain a long-term connection to the Seventh Day Adventist churches in Racine WI and Raymond WI where she found companionship with like-minded individuals.
On April 8, 2026, Joanne ended her 21-year battle with MS. She fought long and hard, but now she finally gets to rest in peace.
She is survived by her three children, Leslie Gene Curtis Jr, Joshua and Stephanie Curtis; daughter-in-law, and son-in-law Heidi and Aldair Martinez; and her two sisters, Sandra and Sharon.
Joanne is preceded in death by her mother, father, and step-father.
A graveside service will be held at Raymond Seventh Day Adventist Cemetery, 4947 108th Street, Franksville, WI 53126 on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
Jean Schneider says
Joanne was a faithful member of our prayer ministry at the Raymond Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Our group met on Wednesday evenings, starting in November of 2016. Even though she had, at one time, worked on the rescue squad and was independent, she eventually needed rides to church and prayer meeting. My husband John and I would pick her up. She would come out of her house using her walker, get into the car and fold it up, and got up the stairs at the church by herself. When we renovated the gym of the old school building, converting it into classrooms and a Sanctuary, she felt right at home. She said she had Ruth Radke as a teacher and had graduated from that HS. We had the privilege of being there when she was baptized into the Raymond Church. We had the same neurologist, so we would schedule our appointments back to back so we could go together. God heard the prayers of this woman, who was small in stature, but large in faith. For about a year we prayed that her son, Les, would get transplants, of his pancreas and kidney. Week after Week she would have us pray while he was on dialysis and insulin. And we would pray. I began to think, “Like that’s going to happen!” Then one Wednesday night, she called to tell us the good news, Les was getting his transplants! They went well and he was like a new man! No more insulin or dialysis! And I was like, “Shut my mouth! Nothing is too hard for God!” Thank you, Joanne for your friendship! Rest in Peace until Jesus comes again to take you home, where you will be whole again!
Stephanie Curtis says
I’m thankful Joanne is at peace now with her mother and free from her MS. I would like to thank Stacey at DL and the 7th Day Adventist Church for a beautiful service. Joanne put her own spin on it with the weather. Joanne was very fortunate to be part of a great church community. We thank Jean and John Schneider and the Karen and Karl Mullenbech for coming to the funeral and everything they did to help Joanne over the years. You were true friends.
Stephanie Curtis says
Correction Karen and Al Muhlenbeck