Joan Olga Mackelfresh

Joan Olga (Meister) Mackelfresh passed away in Northglenn, Colorado on February 2nd, 2017. Joan was born at Lakeland Hospital in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to Clarence and Olga Meister on October 18, 1933. She graduated 1950 from the Lake Geneva High School in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Joan worked for Sears and Roebucks in California but spent 28 years working for Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company. After her retirement from the phone company in 1990, Joan was thrilled to pack up her family home on Pearson Drive in Lake Geneva to relocate blocks from her first-born grandchild. Being a grandma was her new adventure. Joan loved every moment she was able to spend with her family. She loved taking the kids to the Denver Zoo, the Natural History Museum and the Butterfly Pavilion. She even became a lunch lady at the grandchildren's school so she could see them during the day. Joan loved to travel, cook and write daily postcards to friends and family. She enjoyed the frequent trips back to Lake Geneva to enjoy the beautiful lake where she grew up. As much as she loved the mountains in Colorado, she remained a faithful ""Packer"" Fan. Joan was kind hearted and generous, enjoyed feeding the birds and rabbits in the neighborhood, was an avid reader and enjoyed puzzles and knitting. She was a fashionista often changing her nail color and watches to match her outfit. Joan was active in the Wisconsin Synod Lutheran Church both in Lake Geneva and Thornton, where she was part of the prayer chain and in charge of the cradle roll. But her biggest accomplishment was being a full time single working mom to Greg, Patti and Mike. She was devoted to Greg and was able to care for him at their home until this past January. Joan is survived by her three children, Gregory Mackelfresh and Patricia (Rick) Shepherd of Thornton, Colorado and Michael Mackelfresh of San Diego, California, her siblings, John (Shirley), William, Dorothy (Lake Geneva, WI), and Norman (Valerie) (Dotham, AL), her grandchildren, Shannon Shepherd and Erica Weed, Sydney and Brett Mackelfresh and great grandson Kaiden and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be on Wednesday, February 8 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Horan and McConaty Family Chapel at 9998 Grand Street. A memorial service at Lord of Life Lutheran Church will take place at 10:00 am 12021 North Haven Circle in Thornton, Colorado. Memorials made be sent to PKD Foundation or the Lord of Life Lutheran Church. Please leave memories of Joan and condolences for her family by signing the guestbook below.