Joanna Neudeck

Joanna Neudeck began her earthly life on October 23, 1937 and it ended on March 1, 2021, at 83 years of age. Her eternal life in heaven with God was secured when Joanna confessed her sins and trusted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in July of 1949. From 11 years of age, she grew in faith and lived to serve Him faithfully.

Joanna was born to Harry and Astrid Webb in Paw Paw MI. She was raised on the family farm along with older sister Phyllis and younger sibs Marilyn and Bill. Her father was a successful country dairy farmer and her mother was an elementary school teacher before raising her children. Joanna played the drums in the Paw Paw high school marching band and after graduation, moved to Chicago to attend the West Suburban Hospital School of Nursing. She earned her RN degree and began work in the emergency room. She attended Jefferson Park Bible Church in Chicago and there met Ladd Neudeck on a blind date arranged by her best friend and his best friend. He was a city boy, her parents loved and embraced him; they were married June 18, 1960. Scott Ladd was born in 1961 and Julie Marie in 1962. Joanna began to work part time on the midnight shift so that she could care for her children. They lived near O'Hare airport in Norridge and were delighted to meet and host missionaries, Moody students and travelers coming to the Windy City.

Ladd began working with ServiceMaster and was transferred to Springfield IL in 1974. It was in Springfield during the Bicentennial that Joanna began to learn quilting which became a lifelong passion that brought her much joy and friendship. After Scott and Julie graduated from high school and went off to college, Ladd and Jo accepted ServiceMaster transfers to West Bend WI, Niles, Spring Arbor and Saginaw MI. Each location brought a new church family, a new quilting circle of friends and a new position in the Emergency Room Department. Joanna's gracious hospitality and warmth together with Ladd's outgoing personality and heart for service gave them many new friends and opportunities to love others by serving in their local church.

Ladd and Jo loved to travel and favorite destinations with family and friends included the Smoky Mountains, Littleton CO, Laramie WY, Clear Lake South Dakota, Gulf Shores AL and anywhere there were friends and family to visit along the way. For almost 15 years, one of the outstanding annual family vacations involved renting several cottages with family at Gull Lake Bible Conference so that all the cousins, aunts and uncles could stay for the entire week and the family could play and worship and grow together. Family vacations, reunions and holiday gatherings were top priority.

And both Ladd and Jo selflessly helped others, including their kids, with building and remodeling projects big or small.

Ladd retired in 1998 and they moved to Rockford MI and attended West Cannon Baptist Church. Sadly, Ladd passed away very suddenly soon after, and Joanna eventually moved to Covenant Living of the Great Lakes. She launched a new quilting bee there to unite the ladies in that community and delighted in introducing novices to the joys of sewing and quilting. For many years her quilts were on display throughout the facility to add warmth and welcome to everyone. The new quilting guild made donations to the benevolent fund through sales of their craft.

Joanna was an extraordinary woman to know and love. She brought dignity and respect to everyone no matter their situation. Her legacy of gentleness and compassion has deeply impacted her children and grandchildren. Throughout her courageous battle with Parkinson's disease, she has been an inspiration to many people. Her hospice physician asked about her nursing practice after almost 40 years in the ER and her quick sincere reply was simple: "I always tried to remember - that's not just a body under that sheet. It's a person, a person who needs my help."

Truly thousands of people lying under a bedsheet needed her help at some point in their life and she was skilled and delighted to provide care, anxious to do whatever she could to alleviate their fear and discomfort. Even in her last days, aides and staff who cared for her remarked on her joyful and thankful heart.

Joanna was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Ladd Neudeck; sister, Marilyn Webb.

Joanna will be deeply missed as she is survived by her children, Scott Ladd (Lucy) Neudeck and Julie Marie (Mark) Vermeer; grandchildren Kevin (Kim) Vermeer, Kelsey (Brian) Wilterink, Sam Neudeck, Matt (Rachel Niewiada) Vermeer, Austin Neudeck, Brad ( Brie) Neudeck, Timothy Neudeck, Kayla (Jonathan) Patrick, Andrew Neudeck, Joel "Joe" Neudeck: great-grandchildren Charlie Vermeer, Clara, Lewis and Heidi Wilterink, Emery and Sophie Neudeck, Juniper Neudeck; sister Phyllis Webb, brother William "Bill" (Pat) Webb.

A celebration of Joanna's life will be held 12 p.m. Friday, March 5, 2021, at West Cannon Baptist Church, Belmont MI, 5760 Cannonsburg Rd NE, Belmont MI.

For those unable to attend in person, a livestream will be available at www.westcannon.org at the time of the service and viewable afterward. Relatives and friends may visit with family at the church from 11-12pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Faith Hospice https://faithhospicecare.org/donate/. Condolences may be sent online at stegengafuneralchapel.com.