• A Visitation will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024 from 3:00pm-5:00pm followed by a service at 5:00pm at HERITAGE FUNERAL HOME 4800 S. 84th St. Greenfield WI, 53228. Burial will be held at Arlington Park Cemetery at a later date.

Joan Irene Pusich

Joan Irene (Borah) Pusich was born on February 18, 1934 & entered everlasting life on June 10, 2024. Joan was born in McLaughlin, SD to Maggie (Jundt, Borah) Friedel & Frank Borah.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Magdalena Friedel & Franklin Borah, her (7) siblings & some of their spouses: Helen Borah, Irene Borah, William Borah, Darlene & Dale McClain, Shirley Sauer, Eugene & Linell Borah, Allene & Dennis Laib, nephew Jay McClain, great-nephew Nathaniel Borah, great-great-nephews Jamie Sayler & Matthew Shadduck & great-great niece Hannah McClain. She also was preceded in death by her mother & father-in-law, (3) sisters-in-law, (2) brothers-in-law, a nephew & great-nephew on the Pusichs side.

Joan is survived by her husband of 63 years, Elmer Pusich, her one & only daughter, Lisa Jo Witkowiak, her beloved grandchildren, McKenzie Jo & Ethan, her sister-in-law, Adeline Borah & her brother-in-law, Wayne Sauer. On the Pusich side, she is survived by (2) sisters-in-law, (2) brothers-in-law & from both sides, many, many nieces, nephews (up to great-great-great nephews & nieces), cousins, other family members & lifelong friends near & far.

Joan was born & raised on the Reservation in McLaughlin, SD where she went to school & graduated from high school as Valedictorian of her class. She loved school & learning & would have gone all her life if she could have. Instead, Joan joined the Marine Corps during the Korean War & traveled many places outside of small-town SD. After basic training, her job was to log the military airplane flights & could have been an Air Traffic Controller but decided to go down a different path after proudly serving her country.

She met Elmer at 16 when they both stood up in her brother & his sister’s wedding, but it wasn’t until she was 27 in 1960 that she married Elmer on August 13^th & became an official Pusich. They moved to Milwaukee, WI for work & to join other relatives that moved there. Joan had a career at Prudential Insurance for some 30 years until she retired in the late 1990’s. In 1970, her & Elmer welcomed their only child Lisa Jo after 10 years of marriage. She always said having a child at 37 kept her younger longer. In 1995, her daughter married & from that union came (2) beautiful grandchildren, McKenzie Jo & Ethan Robert Dale, who were her pride & joy. She was very involved in their lives & loved them more than life itself.

Joan was a Lutheran Christian all her life & attended church weekly when she could & had a deep love for God. She loved her family more than anything & always put them first. She sent cards & letters for every occasion to every family member & friend. She loved taking pictures to capture her many memories throughout her life. She loved watching the Brewers & Packers & tried to never miss a game on tv. She traveled to SD yearly & “Up North” WI often, to visit family. She was always kind, considerate, unselfish, hardworking, caring, generous & the most forgiving, loving person there was. She will be deeply missed & always remembered & loved.

On that that early morning of June 10^th, Heaven gained an angel & I’m sure God said, “Well done, my faithful servant”, as she was reunited with all her loved ones that arrived before her.