Obituaries

Our much-loved mom and grandmother, Joan Claudette Stein LaPage, passed the morning of Friday, September 29th, surrounded by her daughter Michelle and granddaughters, Jessica and Jemma, into God’s love, with open arms while we recited the Lord’s Prayer.

Joan was born to Jerome and Evelyn (Johnson) Stein on March 6th, 1939, in Eau Claire. She was raised on the famous Stein Farm, Clairemont Avenue near Stein Boulevard. A three-generation farm, her father Willard Stein was a cattle buyer and custom butcher. The family also operated Stein's Stables and offered sleigh rides.

Joan attended many a school dance and always had beautiful one-of-a-kind hand sewn dresses. Joan loved to dance and could always be found at Fourniers Ballroom, and The “Hoot” dancing the night away. Mom was also a Job’s daughter at the EC Masonic Temple, where she was able to attend dances. As a Job’s daughter she was given the freedom to become a Strong Leader, that strength carried her through her life to become an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother.

Joan Claudette Stein married Wayne Dean Blaeser, and together they had three children, David Wayne (Sandi) Blaeser, Richard Stein (Rici Hudlow) Blaeser, and Michelle Lynn (Steven) Sather. Joan went on to marry Donavan (Pete) LaPage.

Mom had many vocations over the years including working/volunteering at the kids school, for hearing checks, vision checks and even worked the lunchroom. Mom was very successful at selling Avon, she had a large customer base for years. Mom also worked for the dental office of Dr. Weiss for several years, before taking a job at Sears, in their maintenance agreements department. There she was very successful and won many awards until its closing.

Mom went on to her last years of work being an effective and compassionate voice at Certified Recovery, where she was very successful in collecting and exceeding her monthly goals to earn bonuses. Over all those years her wise counsel and advice to younger co-workers earned her the nickname of “Grandma Joanie”. She worked up until she was 81 years old, when the covid pandemic struck.

When Joan wasn’t working, she spent many years at O’niel Creek Campground, raising her children there in the summers. She made many long-lasting friendships there over the 50 summers of camping. Mom had a robust circle of women in her life, from her neighborhood coffee girlfriends to her card club nights, Friday night and weeknight dinners with girlfriends, and many many plays they all enjoyed. Mom always had a large circle of friends, and she was loved by them all, she was honest and so giving of herself. Christmas was her holiday to shine, not for gifts or anything other than to sit and watch her family all together. The room was filled with love and laughter and was all she ever wanted/needed.

To her, the greatest accomplishment in life was her 3 children. She gave more than she ever took; she taught us to love unconditionally, always give more, to accept everyone, and to love BIG!

Joan is survived by her son, Rick (Rici Hudlow) Blaeser; daughter, Michelle (Steve) Sather; and daughter-in-law, Sandi Blaeser. Joan’s grandchildren and greats, Anna Blaeser; Jack (Devin Morales) Blaeser; Ryan (Kael & Kaed) Blaeser; Jessica (Josh) Katiera; Kallie Walz; Jared (fiancé Kendall Kaatz ) Blaeser; Jillian (Tyler) Ty; Andrew; Max Botz; Cassie (John) Howard; Henrik; Lucille; Lillian; Johnny; Abigail; Leona; Pike; Jordon (Jemma) Cameron; Gordon; Silas Sather; Jacob (Ezra & Izabella) Sather; Benjamin (Isla & Elias) Cronin; Jake (Andrea Pereira) Hulberg; Isaac Hulberg. Sister, Karen (David Johnson); sisters-in-law, Leah Turk and Janice Lekvin; many nieces and nephews, Christopher (Michelle) Johnson (Elizabeth & Grant); Matthew (Amiee) Johnson (Samuel); Lori La Page; Mark (Karen) La Page; Sheryl (Dan) Whelihan; Daniel (Judy) Turk; Dana (Anthony) Nicolai; Linda (John) Till; Brad Lekvin; Paul (Sherri) Lekvin; James (Dana) Lekvin; Jeffrey (Lisa) Lekvin; Steven Newman; and Tommy (Denise) Newman; Joyce (Jensen) Lindner; Juanita Jensen; Margie (Johnson) Lewis; Dorothy (Johnson) Buxton; and Carole Sikes.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Evelyn Margaret Stein Potts and Jerome Willard Stein, and David Potts; her husband, Donavan (Pete) LaPage; her first born son, David Wayne Blaeser; her beloved daughter-in-law, Julie Ann (Meyers) Blaeser; Aunt Ruth (Stein) Delos Newman; cousin, William Newman; her in-laws, Gerald and Florence La Page; brother-in-law, Patrick Lekvin; Robert Turk; Lawrence LaPage; and sister-in-law Janice LaPage.

Rick & Michelle extend thanks and gratitude to the amazing staff and caregivers at Park View Home in Woodville, WI, St. Croix Hospice, and Dr Anton Kidess, MD.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital in Joan's name.

Lastly: Caramel Rolls … IYKYK