Joan M. Polivka

View the image gallery Joan M. Polivka, was Born to Eternal Life November 20, 2010 at the age of 89 years, surrounded by her loving family. She was born March 11, 1921 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the daughter of James and Mary (nee Kelly) Hickey. Joan attended high school at St. Mary’s High School in Menasha, WI. She then attended Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, studying voice training, leadership and personnel guidance. Joan earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin, with minors in sociology, Spanish and speech. She did her graduate work at Oxford University in England, University College in Dublin, Ireland, and Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. Her professional experience included the International Institute of Milwaukee County as Community Relations Coordinator, Marathon Corporation, Miller Brewing Company as Public Relations Assistant to President Fredrick Miller, in which she represented him in community affairs and did presentations for the Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers. Joan was also a Committee member, liaison and coordinator of community fund drives for the Fred Miller Theater (now the Milwaukee Repertory Theater) and the professional director of the Kenosha Council of the Girl Scouts. She was a world traveler. Joan was a member of People to People and Sister Cities International beginning in 1963. She was a founding member of the Sister Cities of Minneapolis, MN and Santiago, Chile, and a co-founding member of the Sister Cities of Tucson, AZ and Roscommon, Ireland. Joan was also a member of the US Department of State Advisory Committee on International Organizations, National Public Relations Chairman and Regional Chairman of the National Association for Foreign Student Affairs, National League of Cities, State of Minnesota Department of Human Rights – Women’s Advisory Committee, Chairman of Peace Corps Service Council, and many others. She also achieved the rank of LGCHS with the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and a State delegate to many Republican National Conventions. Joan married Russell W. Polivka on August 29, 1959 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee. She is survived by her sister Rita Fahrenkrug of Manitowoc, as well as nieces and nephews and many friends. Joan is preceded in death by her husband Russell in 2005, her parents, her brothers John, Leo, Vincent, Maurice and Eugene, her sister Genevieve Wolf, her brothers-in-law Myron Fahrenkrug and Wilmer Wolf, sisters-in-law Stacia, Yolanda, Eleanor and Patricia. Visitation Friday, December 3 from 5-7 PM at the Berndt-Ledesma Funeral Home, 226 South Main Street, Hartford, WI and Saturday, December 4 from 8-9 AM at St. Kilian’s Catholic Church, 264 West State Street, Hartford. Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 9 AM. Rev. David LaPlante will officiate. Interment at 12 Noon at St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Neenah, WI. "A special Thank You to Cedar Community for their loving care of Joan" The Berndt-Ledesma Funeral Home is serving the family. www.berndt-ledesma.com

Joan M. Polivka

March 11, 1921 - November 20, 2010