Joan Marie Orth

February 16, 1939 - November 25, 2019

Text:

Obituary For Joan Marie Orth

Joan Marie Orth passed away on November 25th, 2019 in Durham, NC at the age of 80 years. She lived the last thirteen years of her life battling Parkinson’s Disease, which contributed to her death following complications from recent surgery.

Joan was born on February 16th, 1939 in Racine, WI to Charles and Alice (nee Witipil) Kaisler. She is survived by her husband, John; daughter, Lisa (Ray) Mannion; sons, Peter (Heidi) and Gregory; grandchildren, Connor Orth and Ashley (Kevin) Schwartz. She is also survived by her brother, Gordon (Mary) Kaisler, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Joan married John W. Orth on August 26, 1961. Joan and John celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary in August 2019. They both celebrated their 80th birthdays surrounded by all of their children and grandchildren this past February.

Joan earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1962, and a Masters Degree in Reading Sciences from Cardinal Stritch University in 1995. Joan taught 4th grade in Albuquerque, NM while John was stationed there in the US Army. Following receipt of her Masters degree, she taught at The Literacy and Math Center at Cardinal Stritch University, a specialized intense reading and literacy program for students with specialized needs. Throughout her life Joan enjoyed reading and sharing her love of reading with her students and family.

Joan was a talented violinist and achieved First Violin with the Racine Symphony Orchestra in the 1950’s. Joan was a lifelong student and lover of music, which she passed on to her children and family. In 2016, Joan continued her music studies and took up the harp, an entirely new instrument to her, following a Mother’s day gift of a harp from her daughter, Lisa and son-in-law, Ray. Joan and husband, John, were long time season ticket holders for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and after retiring to Durham, the North Carolina Symphony.

Joan enjoyed traveling with John and in retirement they toured Europe extensively via ocean and river cruises until her condition limited her ability to board buses and ships. Joan especially enjoyed her visits to Vienna and the Vienna Symphony.

Following John’s military service, Joan and family lived in Highland Park, IL, Madison, WI, Fort Atkinson, WI, and Grafton, WI before retiring to Durham, NC to be closer to their children. Joan and John have been an active part of the Carolina Arbors retirement community in Durham since 2015.

Joan was an accomplished “Stitcher” throughout her life, and there is no known documentation that she ever passed up a chance to visit a needle point store. She stitched by a motto of “She with the most fiber wins.” John assures us that she was a world class contender in this contest!

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Joan Marie Orth to the Parkinson’s Foundation Carolinas Chapter: https://www.parkinson.org/Carolinas

A Viewing and Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 5, 2019 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Renaissance Funeral Home. A second Viewing and Visitation will be held on Friday, December 6, 2019 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. with the Funeral Mass beginning at 3:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church.

Services

5 Dec

Viewing and Visitation

05:00 PM - 08:00 PM

Renaissance Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center 7615 Six Forks Rd Raleigh, NC 27615 Get Directions »
6 Dec

Viewing and Visitation

02:30 PM - 03:30 PM

St. Francis of Assisi R.C. Church 11401 Leesville Road RALEIGH, NC 27613 Get Directions »
6 Dec

Funeral Service

03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

St. Francis of Assisi R.C. Church 11401 Leesville Road RALEIGH, NC 27613 Get Directions »
by Obituary Assistant

Photos & Video

Add New Photos & Video

Condolences

  • September 01, 2020

    Lisa Mannion

    Thank you Janet. I have fond memories of you and your parents when we all lived in Madison. I did not realize at the time that she had you help with the boys so she could spend time with me. ~Lisa Orth Mannion

  • September 01, 2020

    Rebecca Orth

    Memories are abundant today for a very kind sister-in-law. I will cherish our times together starting in 1983, as we watched children grow into wonderful adults, sharing stories along the way, and enjoying many wonderful holidays together. Rest in Peace Joan. :heart: Rebecca Orth

  • September 01, 2020

    Irene and David Thun

    To the family of Joan Orth. Dave and I send our deepest sympathy to your family. Joan was a hair client of mine back in Grafton WI. We had our weekly special talks with a cup of coffee or even going out to lunch. She was a very special lady. Rest in peace! And Keep the Faith :heart::pray::heart:

  • September 01, 2020

    Stacey Wendt-Kaisler

    Aunt Joan was a kind and beautiful soul. We send love, prayers and healing thoughts to Uncle Jack and the whole family. May your memories of Joan provide you with comfort during this difficult time and the days ahead. We wish we could be with you to celebrate Aunt Joan's life, but please know we are there in spirit. Love, Steve and Stacey Kaisler

  • September 01, 2020

    Rob and Willy Langenhuysen

    In 1980 during a business trip to the Madison company Jack worked for, we met Joan for the first time, a very kind and empathic lady. The tender loving care for her family but also for others was abundantly present in the way she lived her life. We have spent so many great moments with her and Jack over the last 40 years that it is difficult to imagine future trips to the Orth Family without enjoying her presence. We cherish many ever lasting and great memories of Joan. We wish Jack, Lisa, Peter, Greg and family strength in overcoming this great loss. Rob and Willy Langenhuysen, Huis ter Heide, Netherlands

  • September 01, 2020

    Janet Bates

    Dear Jack and family, Please accept my sincere condolences on Joan's passing. Joan is my cousin on the Kaisler side. I am George Kaisler's youngest daughter Janet. I fondly remember visiting Cedarburg and Uncle Charlie's greenhouse full of beautiful geraniums. Joan was always kind to us pesky little cousins during those visits. I also remember being awed at those beautiful geraniums in glass holders at your wedding. Joan and Aunt Alice were always such calm and gracious ladies. When you lived in Madison, I would come to your house one day a week during one summer and help Joan with some chores and then babysit so she could have some special time alone or with Lisa. Again, Joan was always patient and kind to a teenager. And, generous too...she paid me a $1.00 an hour back then which was unheard of for a 14 year old in 1970! Joan and and you Jack always made it a point to attend Kaisler family gatherings when you could. You were both very kind to my Dad when my mom died and when Uncle Bill passed away. Kindness, grace and generosity are Joan's legacy to me. I wish you all peace as you remember a wonderful lady. Janet Kaisler Bates

  • September 01, 2020

    Rebecca Orth

    Lit a candle in memory of Joan Marie Orth

  • September 01, 2020

    Dennis Mannion

    We have good memories when we met in 2004 at Ray and Lisas wedding. Now you are an Angel for us all. Dennis and Fran Mannion

  • September 01, 2020

    Nancy Mehring

    Our dear sweet Joan is now celebrating eternal happiness. We met at The University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee where we became friends and soulmates. My greatest joy happened when she asked me to be her godmother and later to be part of her wedding party when she married the love of her life, Jack. Beautiful bride and always a beautiful soul. Her kindness bubbled over to all who knew her. She always was an angel and will be missed by all. God be with you Jack and the family. Our deepest sympathy, Nancy and Jerry Mehring

  • September 01, 2020

    Lisa Mannion

    Thank you so much for your kind words and photos you have sent Rob. I have long thought of you and Willie as our Dutch Aunt and Uncle. I know you were both very special to Mom.

  • September 01, 2020

    Lisa Mannion

    Thank you Steve and Stacey

  • September 01, 2020

    Lisa Orth Mannion

    Thank you Irene--I'm pretty sure Mom never found anyone who did her hair better than you did once she moved to NC.

  • September 01, 2020

    Lisa Orth Mannion

    Thank you so much Aunt Becky

  • September 01, 2020

    John Orth

    Rob and Willy: THANK YOU very much for the elegant flower arrangement for Joan's Funeral. I will send you a photo of it soon. Love, Jack

  • September 01, 2020

    John Orth

    Irene: Thanks very much, Joan and I appreciated your political messages very much, keep them coming and I will try to reciprocate. John Orth

  • September 01, 2020

    John Orth

    Thanks, Becky. We missed you at the funeral. I hope we can meet again some day. Jack

  • September 01, 2020

    John Orth

    Thanks Irene, Joan and I appreciated your political messages. Please keep them coming and I will try to reciprocate.

  • September 01, 2020

    John Orth

    Thanks very much for your life long friendship and generous gift to the parkinson's association. They are doing great things with research and I believe they are close to a cure with new genetic engineering and adult stem cell therapy. It seems to be working in mice already.

Add a Candle or Spiritual Image

Click below to add to your message.