Joanne Krentz Maiers died peacefully at her home on Sunday, January 22^nd.  She was born on December 31, 1933, in Harrisburg, PA, the third child of Rev. Paul and Ruth Krentz.  At an early age she moved with her family to Aurora, IL, where she grew up.  She attended Valparaiso University, graduating in 1954.  She married Wesley W. Maiers and was the proud mother of five children: Janet (Lon) LaGrave (grandchildren: Maran, Katherine, Nathan), Karen (John) Sudduth (Stephen, Kirk, Joanna), Don (Brenda) Maiers (Nick, Bret, Donald), Martha (Christopher) Tillquist (Abraham, Magdalene), and Lora (Dave) Castleman (Joseph, Ella, Paul).  She was the proud great-grandmother of five.  In addition she was a gracious host mother for three international students: Lisbeth (Denmark), Verena (Switzerland), and Rico (Switzerland).

She is survived by one sister, Ruth (Carl) Brighton, one brother, Peter (Wanda) Krentz, one sister-in-law, Shirley Dieringer, and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith and currently is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church.  Professionally she was a reading specialist, a first grade teacher, a middle school English teacher, and an adjunct professor at PNC.

Because of her interest in colors and fabrics, she was a natural fit for membership in the Duneland Weavers’ Guild.  She regularly took a fleece of wool, cleaned it, carded it, spun it, dyed it, and wove it into a beautiful fabric.  Although she was a “city girl,” she embraced a country style of living and delighted in informing guests that we had produced everything served on the table.

She and her husband loved to travel both alone and with 13 unique Elderhostel programs.  Their most adventuresome private journey was a six-week trip, traveling by car from Norway to Turkey and Greece.

Visitation will be on Thursday, January 26, at Moeller Funeral Home from 3 – 5 and 6 – 8 PM, and the funeral service will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 11 AM on Friday, January 27.  Memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice or Valparaiso University.