Joan M. Madler, formerly of New England, went to be with her Creator surrounded by her family on Friday, September 21, 2018 at St. Vincent’s Care Center, Bismarck. Joan’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, New England, with Fr. Gary Benz as the celebrant. Inurnment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. There will be a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Ladbury Funeral Service with Deacon Victor Dvorak presiding.
Joan Marie Madler was born on August 16, 1932 in Starkweather, to Raymond and Dorotheus (Hartman) Plemel. She attended and graduated from Starkweather High School. After that, she attended Dakota Business College in Fargo, and then was employed at Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. She met Joseph Madler through a mutual friend while she resided in Fargo. They were married June 2nd, 1956 in Starkweather. They took over the Madler homestead in Stark County and farmed there until the fall of 1965. They went on to have ten children, building their family on love and hard work.
They moved to their present farm and operated a dairy and farm business until retiring in the fall of 1995, when they turned over the operations to their sons. Unfortunately they enjoyed little time of retirement together as Joe died in July, 1996 after a short battle with lung cancer. Joan continued to live on the farm next to her sons and do the things she loved. A few of these included playing golf and poker with friends, hitting the casinos, riding around in her convertible, and visiting her children. When at home, she enjoyed reading, following football and putting in her picks, laughing along to taped TV shows, attending church and her prayer hour at St. Mary’s, and stopping for happy hour with friends.
In 2015, Joan moved to Mandan, where she resided at Edgewood Vista. In June of 2018, she moved one last time to St. Vincent’s in Bismarck. Joan will be remembered for her great sense of humor, cooking talents, and card playing strategies. A few fan favorite recipes included, homemade potato soup and spoondrops, caramel and sweet rolls, lefse, and chocolate chip cookies. She especially enjoyed playing cards with her grandchildren, and playing for money was even better! Some of the classic card games she taught them were Bar Rummy, Scat, Racko, Golf, and Garbage. The grandkids also loved her candy drawer and gum ball machine!
Joan is survived by: ten children, Jeanne (John) Jankowski, Bismarck, Michael (Leah), New England, Teresa (Dave) Schoch, Minot, Laure (Brad) Niehaus, Phoenix, Ariz., Mark (Echo), Omaha, Neb., Greg (Kristi), New England, Mary (Jay) Bachmeier, Bismarck, Julie Hagen, Excelsior, Minn., Amy Baker, Lakewood, Colo., and Margie (Tyler) Erickson, Fargo; 28 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and one brother, Thomas Plemel, Minot. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two brothers and a grandchild.
