Joanne K (Smith) Foth

Joanne Kay Foth, age 87, of Little Chute, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Friday, August 21, 2026. She was born on January 25, 1939, in Litchfield, Minnesota, to Derwood and Lillian Smith.

Joanne married the love of her life, Kenneth Foth, on December 30, 1958, and the two remained devoted to one another for 66 years. It was love at first sight, and they quickly started their married life together at Fort Benning, Georgia, while Ken was serving in the Army. They shared their lives, faith, family, and many bowls of orange sherbet in the years to follow. Joanne and Ken were the epitome of love and a perfect example of marriage for their family and all who knew them.

They settled in the Fox Cities and had two children, Mark and Kari. Joanne was a wonderful mother who enjoyed raising her kids and volunteering in the reading program at their schools. Later in life, she worked in patient registration at Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah. She loved her job and told many stories of her time there even after retirement.

One of Joanne’s greatest joys was being “Nana” to Lexi, Olivia, Savannah, and Mason. She was very proud of her grandchildren and cherished the time they spent together, whether in person or on the phone. Joanne was the matriarch of her family, lovingly referred to as the “queen.”

Joanne was known for her soft-spoken nature, kind heart, and delicious cooking. She was surrounded by a large extended family and many friends who loved her deeply, and she had a gift for making everyone feel cherished. She had a remarkable memory and delighted in sharing stories, making sure those memories were passed down and never forgotten. She loved holding hands, irises, dogs, word search puzzles, and the color pink.

Joanne is survived by her husband, Kenneth Foth; children, Mark (Tina) Foth and Kari (John) Stutzman; grandchildren, Lexi (Michael) Stutzman, Olivia Foth, Savannah Stutzman, and Mason (Liz) Foth; brother, Merlin Smith; sisters-in-law, Jan Smith and Norma Naef; brother-in-law, Bob Moe; and many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, James Smith and Rosemary Moe; and many brothers- and sisters-in-law.

The funeral service for Joanne will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. at Valley Funeral Home, 2211 N. Richmond St., Appleton.  A time of visitation will be held on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral Home.  The funeral service for Joanne will be livestreamed: https://evt.live/joanne-foth-funeral-service.  Internment will be in the Riverside Cemetery.  For online condolences please visit www.valleyfh.com

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