Joan Leora Lee Krebs

(nee Ballard)
Reunited with her beloved husband Len in Heaven on Tuesday March 6, 2018, age 87yrs.
Preceded in death by her parents, William and Lorraine Ballard, In-laws Karl and LaVonne Mogk, Sister and Brother-in-law Richard and Beverly Rand and Son-in-law Robert A. Brown.

Survived by her three daughters Kimberly Brown (Ray) LeBoeuf, Kerry Krebs and Karyn (Paul) Sehmer.

Very, Very Proud Grandmother to Derek (Heather) Brown, Elizabeth Wiza, Amanda (Nick) Schaffran, Nicole Sehmer and Olivia Page. Loving Great Grandmother to Mason and Camryn Brown. Dear sister of Pat (Tom) Alles and further survived by many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Joan was born in Milwaukee on November 15, 1930. She graduated from Woodside School in Brookfield, Wauwatosa East HS and Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing. She met the love of her life, Leonard Krebs, on a blind date. They married in 1955 and settled in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
A devoted Lutheran, she was a lifelong member of Elm Grove Lutheran Church and took great pride in being in the very first Confirmation class there and being the first couple married in the “new” church on Verdant Drive.

She always had a soft heart for animals and books, a trait she has passed on to all her daughters. Blessed with high intelligence, she was a woman who could have been successful in any chosen career. After the birth of her daughters, she returned to various nursing opportunities, finishing out her career at Elm Brook Memorial Hospital as the Employee Health Nurse, a place and job she loved.

Above all, she lived for her family. She and Len spent many enjoyable summers traveling throughout the US with their children and later, their 4 eldest grandchildren exploring historical sites and teaching them all about American History. Joan was extremely proud that she and Len could help facilitate a Christian lifestyle by enrolling them in Elm Grove Lutheran School. In her later years, she enjoyed politics, crime TV shows and family gatherings, especially around the holidays where demands to “save the bows” would ring through the halls of the house.

Blessed with a strong marriage, a passion for learning and a generous heart, she leaves our family with a legacy of love to pass on for many generations.

Special appreciation and thanks to all the employees at Mission Creek Senior Living in Waukesha for befriending Joan and taking such good care of her, and us, this past year. She appreciated and loved you all! Endless thanks and adoration to Warren and Amy from Hometown Hospice who kept Mom comfortable these past few weeks and helped her prepare her for her new life with the Lord.

“Call your mother, she worries”

Visitation will take place on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at ELM GROVE LUTHERAN CHURCH (945 Terrace Drive) from 10 am until the time of service at Noon. Private family entombment Wisconsin Memorial Park Cemetery.

If so desired memorials to Elm Grove Lutheran Church or to the charity of your choice appreciated.

“…Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” Matthew 28:20