Joanne Elizabeth Dutelle

Surrounded by the love, prayers, laughter, singing, and comfort of her family, Joanne Elizabeth Dutelle (nee Madlo) of Waukesha completed her baptismal journey on Friday, August 15, 2025, at the age of 83 years and joined her beloved husband for a new adventure together.

Joanne was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Fred and Hilda (Lienerth) Madlo, where she grew up and developed a love for traveling as a teenager. She became a United Airlines flight attendant at the age of 19, a job that led her to meet and eventually marry the love of her life, Joe. While raising a family, she became a travel agent and then co-owner of Apex Travel in Brookfield, allowing her to travel the globe and enjoy everything from Caribbean and South Pacific cruises to an African safari and the exploration of countries across Europe and Asia.

Joanne was an avid volunteer, most notably for the Brookfield Jaycees, Waukesha Clearing Council, her church’s jail ministry and altar guild, and for the School District of Waukesha. And she never missed an opportunity to open her home to family, friends, friends of family, family of friends, or anyone who needed a place to stay, a meal to eat, or a Hallmark Movie watching partner.

Her generous and hospitable spirit, dedication to family, loyalty to friends, love of cherished traditions, and annual holiday baking of the universe’s best sour cream coffee cake will be forever missed by her children, Mike (Kim) Dutelle, Mark (Tracy) Dutelle, and Nikki (Dave) Rees; grandchildren, Dani (fiancé Mitchel), Luke, Brynn, and Jared Dutelle, Derek and Paige Dutelle, and Lauren and Ryan Rees; sister, Nancie Kearney; several brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and treasured friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Joseph Dutelle, and her parents, Fred Jr. and Hilda Madlo.

A celebration of life service is planned for November 22, 2025 at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2016 Center Road Waukesha, WI 53189, and a private internment of ashes ceremony will be held on November 23,2025 when she and Joe will be laid to rest together on their 62nd wedding anniversary.

Instead of flowers, Joanne’s family requests donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

(service times will be announced)