WAUKESHA – Joan Phillipson, age 87, passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at AngelsGrace Hospice in Oconomowoc. She was born on April 21, 1937 in Harvard, IL to Ralph and Thelma (Cramer) Butts. Joanie was a country girl. She loved her life on her ranch, “Spurs and Purrs”, with her horses and kitties. Joanie loved being outdoors, feeding the birds, cutting down weeds, burdocks, thistles and repairing fence. She loved listening to music and performing. Joanie learned to play guitar and piano at an early age, learned coronet in high school and taught accordion. She had perfect pitch and could play any instrument she picked up, guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, flute, and harp. In her living room is an often played baby grand piano she found at Goodwill. As a teenager she had her own radio show on WMCW out of Harvard where she played guitar and sang. As an adult she performed in various folk and country groups. One group performed at the 5th East Troy Blue Grass Festival in 1998. This festival just celebrated its 30th year and Joanie was there enjoying it with her sisters and brothers. It was special for them to experience the festival thru Joanie’s eyes and memories and see the 30 years of T-shirts on display, including hers with the name of her band on the back: Traditional Sounds.
She loved animals, her horses, Apache Rose and Mickey in her teen years and currently Apple and Cody. And her kitties, Tippy, Cookie, Tuxie Boy, and Brat Cat. She was very sensitive about the care of animals. A few weeks ago she was riding with her sister in a convertible on a beautiful sunny fall day when an oncoming car hit a turkey on the road. Joanie immediately said “Stop the car.” She ran back and pulled the stricken turkey off the roadway. Something she had done many times as animals were hit on the road in front of her ranch.
Joanie was also an artist. As a child she was always sketching, quite often sketching horses. She drew photos for her high school yearbook as well as designed set decorations for the high school plays in which she performed main parts. She worked at UW-Milwaukee as a graphic artist and at the Waukesha Freeman. For her church in addition to providing piano music, she also produced the weekly bulletin, many posters, and banners of upcoming events.
She was Daddy’s girl, then a college girl, married woman, and country girl. She was so kind and gentle with a very sensitive heart for people, animals, and nature. She loved her life on the ranch. It was her life’s desire to spend her last days as she did, at her ranch with the animals she loved.
Joan is survived by her siblings, Thomas (Lucy), Elaine, Jerry, Richard (Cindy), and Janine; and many nieces and nephews.
Joan is preceded in death by her parents; and brother-in-law, Tom.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at Briggs Road Evangelical Free Church, 4654 Briggs Road in Elkhorn. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the funeral on Thursday at the church. Burial will take place at Spring Grove Cemetery in Delavan.
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