Joel James Francoeur

Joel James Francoeur, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away on May 24, 2024, at the age of 91. Joel was born on March 30, 1933, in Adrian, Michigan to Harry and Mary Jeanette (Carey) Francoeur. He grew up in Anderson, Indiana, alongside his three siblings: Joan (Francoeur) Kaminski, Cleve (Dorothy) Francoeur, and Byron (Carol) Francoeur.

Joel attended St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana, where he served as president of St. Joseph’s Student Council. Following his graduation in 1955, Joel worked at Delco Remy, Kaiser Aluminum and the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company. He spent time living in Los Angeles, California and Chicago, Illinois before moving to Milwaukee in the mid-1960s. There, at the Lakeshore Towers apartment complex, Joel met the love of his life, Joan Miller. The couple married in 1969, and shortly thereafter Joel began work at Jordan Engineering and Joan started a career with IBM. They welcomed their darling daughter, Jocelyn, in 1971.

At Jordan Engineering Joel had the opportunity to travel extensively, both domestically and abroad. He relished fine dining experiences wherever he visited and, when at home in Milwaukee, at the Grenadier’s with Chef Knut Apitz. Joel himself was a wonderful cook and the consummate host; he would be the first to offer a drink or one of his famous cheese wafers. He loved sharing and listening to good stories, and anyone who heard his infectious laugh would work twice as hard to hear it again. 

After Joel retired in 1989 he and Joan continued to explore the world together, enjoying memorable trips to Paris and London. The couple also treasured time at their cottage in Eagle River, Wisconsin, where they often hosted friends and family for summer visits or Cranberry Fest. Joel loved captaining his pontoon boat on Catfish Lake and savoring broasted chicken at Twelve Pines.

In 2004 Jocelyn married her college sweetheart, Ryan Hedges, and Joel was thrilled to welcome Ryan to the family. He was equally delighted when his granddaughter, Amelia Jeanette, was born in 2010. Joel and Amelia shared a love of Charlie Brown, silly jokes, painting, and delicious desserts. Amelia baked many of Joel’s birthday cakes, including a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting for his 91st birthday. He loved every single one.

During the last 15 years of his life, Joel endured a series of health challenges, but each time he persevered through arduous rehabilitation schedules to return home. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2012, Joel was one of the 1% who survive more than ten years post-diagnosis. He subsequently suffered strokes in 2015 and 2021. Despite the loss of so many freedoms, Joel loved spending time with Joan, reading historical nonfiction, establishing an historic district in Wauwatosa, looking out the bedroom window at the geese on the pond, having a glass of “wine” at the end of the day, and enjoying a laugh from a comedy show before bedtime. He was not a simple man, but he loved simple things, and that made him easy to love. Everyone who met Joel was struck by his warmth, wit, impeccable manners, and generosity. He was a true gentleman whose soul was filled with kindness. 

Joel is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Joan, his cherished daughter Jocelyn and her husband Ryan, his adored granddaughter Amelia, his siblings Joan, Cleve, and Byron, his sisters-in-law Jennifer (Miller) Keup and Heidi Miller (Paul Adler), and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Drs. Evans, Thomas, Erickson and Dua at the Medical College of Wisconsin for their expertise, which granted the family 12 more years with the man they loved so dearly. They would also like to thank the wonderful staff at AngelsGrace Hospice for their compassionate care at the end of Joel’s life.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joel’s name may be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital or the Maryann and Charles LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The family will be holding a private celebration of Joel’s life at a future date, where they will remember how he sought and saw the good in everyone. Cheese wafers may be served.