Joanne M. Gidley

Joanne Marie Gidley, 88, lifelong Superiorite, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at Cardinal Ridge Assisted Living in Green Bay, WI. She was born in Superior on May 11, 1935, to Gustave and Emma (Vangresspere) DeRiemaker.

She attended St. Francis Xavier Elementary School, graduated from Cathedral High School in 1953, and earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN in 1957.

Joanne and John W. Gidley were married July 27, 1957, at St. Francis Xavier Church. They were married 47 years before his passing on November 5, 2005.

She was a member of the Cathedral of Christ the King Catholic parish, a Eucharistic Minister at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Superior and was a reporter for the Catholic Herald newspaper from 1955 to 1958. Taking time to raise her family, she then became a secretary/bookkeeper for the S.S. Meteor Maritime Museum in 1977. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Head of the Lakes Maritime Society Ltd and salesperson at the former Kinder Haus. As Office Manager and Tourism Coordinator of the Superior/Douglas County Chamber of Commerce from 1984 to 1997, she was instrumental in revitalizing the Superior/Douglas County Sports Hall of Fame and seeking a new site for the organizations plaque display at Superior High School. She retired and worked part-time at PD Advertising.

Joanne loved to write. Editor of her high school and college newspapers and League of Woman Voters newsletter for many years. She created and served as editor of the Cathedral parish “Good News’ bulletin for ten years and editor of the Maritime museums “Whaleback Log”. While Tourism Coordinator, she was editor of the Superior/Douglas County tourism publication. After her retirement, Joanne wrote several Senior Features for the Telegram and letters for the Cathedral School “Panther Pride” alumni newsletter. While serving on the Parish Liturgy committee, she assisted in compiling and editing the Cathedral tour book.

In 2009 she completed a family history and photo book, Gidley Heritage, for members of her family. In 2012, she wrote a children’s book, “Emma’s Story” about her mother’s journey from Belgium to the United States during World War I.

Joanne was devoted to her family and took great pride in their accomplishments. A people person, her interests included reading, writing, needlework, playing bridge, and communicating with friends and relatives via mail, email, or her annual “Gidley Gazette” Christmas letter. She enjoyed her home and well-known collection of all things’ butterflies. Traveling on “history treks” throughout the United States and to Rome, Italy with her husband and her trip to Belgium with her son, Matthew, was especially memorable. She loved being with her sons and grandchildren, and spending countless hours at football, baseball, basketball, and soccer venues, was special to her.

Joanne is survived by her four sons, Matthew (Donna) Gidley, Green Bay, WI, Paul (Cathleen) Gidley, St. Paul, MN, John (Heidi) Gidley, Superior, and Michael (Anessa) Gidley, Prior Lake, MN; daughter-in-law Pamela (Lou DeGraef) Gidley, Superior; eight granddaughters, Christine (Dale) St. Arnold, Cassandra (Joe Gigliotti), Alexandra, Hannah (Eugene) Checketts, Lauren (Parker Doelger), Gabrielle (Bobbijean), Lily, and Liv; four grandsons, Lucas, Samuel, Jack, and Leo; great-grandchildren Kieran and Alexis Checketts and Layton and Daphne St. Arnold; brother-in-law Ronald Smet; and three nephews Steven, Craig (Maggie), and Scott (Jeanette) Smet, and their families.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband John; son David; infant daughter Carolyn Marie; infant son; infant granddaughter Courtney Therese; sister Diane; and her parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cathedral School, 1419 Baxter Ave in Superior or the Superior High School David Gidley Scholarship Fund https://superior.k12.wi.us/superior_scholarship_foundation

Visitation will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at Cathedral of Christ the King Catholic Church, 1410 Baxter Ave in Superior, and will continue until the Memorial Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM with Rev. Fr. Andrew Ricci as celebrant.

Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery at a later date.

They Family would like to thank Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home for assisting with the funeral arrangements. They would also like to thank the staff at Cedar Ridge Residential Care in Superior and Cardinal Ridge Residential Care in Green Bay for the kind and loving care Joanne received during her time with them.