Joan Marie (Maki) Webb

HURLEY, Wis. - Joan Webb, who always told her kids she was Wonder Woman in disguise, loved wearing high heels in her youth, was a drum majorette in high school and could throw a baton high in the air and catch it as it came down, thus attracting the man who became her husband as he took photos of a parade she was marching in 65 years ago, lost her three-year battle with colon cancer on Feb. 21, 2016.

She passed peacefully, at home, surrounded by her family after making them laugh in the days just preceding her death with her dry sense of humor and sharp wit. She was 83 years old, just weeks from her 84th birthday.

Joan died at home, and she was born at home, on March 12, 1932, in Montreal, Wis., to Elma (Herrala) and E.J. Maki. She was doted on and adored by her parents, grandparents and everyone, really. Joan was an only child, but grew up with a group of first cousins as close as siblings; Ron, Donna and Denny Maki, Brian Tarro, and Richard and Floyd Mandelin. There was nothing more fun for Joan throughout her life than getting together with this crew and their kids, sharing stories, great meals, and constant laughter.

Always an excellent student, Joan graduated as co-valedictorian from J.E. Murphy High School in Hurley, Wis. She received a full-ride academic scholarship to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which she turned down to take a job in Social Services at the courthouse in Hurley, and shortly thereafter, to marry Wendall (Toby) Webb, the love of her life, her soulmate and her husband of 64 years.

They settled into married life in a house they had built on Bernard Street in Hurley and soon son Jack arrived. Toby's job took the young family, Joan's mother Elma in tow, away from Hurley to Iron Mountain, Mich. Toby was transferred again to Belleville, Ill., where son Randy was born.

Joan took a job working for the commander of Scott Air Force Base. Toby was transferred again, this time to Minneapolis. They bought a house in St. Louis Park and welcomed daughter Wendy, clearly the light of Joan's life (and the author of this obit).

With the exception of a few years after Wendy was born, Joan always worked outside the home. In Minneapolis, she got a job at General Mills, where she ultimately rose to the position of Assistant to the Chairman, which she held until she retired - Assistant to the Chairman of a Fortune 100 company, this without a business degree. She had 40 people working directly under her there and counted the chairmen and CEOs of most of the major corporations in Minneapolis as friends.

Joan loved her job, but she loved her family even more. She and Toby had the best marriage any couple has ever had, and they were treated like royalty everywhere they went. In later years, they were like an old vaudeville act, making everyone laugh and fall in love with them with their banter. She was loved by everyone who ever met her - this is not an exaggeration. It's the truth.

Joan was a devoted daughter and a breathtakingly good mother, completely supportive of every crazy decision her children ever made. She constantly told and showed them they were loved. She created a household filled with love and laughter.

Although she claimed to have many signature dishes in her cooking repertoire, her mother, Elma, actually did the cooking for the family while Joan was off dominating the world, and this was a constant source of amusement for her children. Lasagna and German chocolate cake (boxed) were in her repertoire. A short list, yes, but they were both wonderful.

She particularly loved her niece and nephew, Toby's sister's children, Sandy Moller (Dick) and Michael Carli (Nancy) and her younger sister-in-law Mary Bonk (Dave).

The years went by, and grandchildren came along. First Ben Lyso, Wendy's son, and then Samuel and Sydney Webb, Jack's children. She adored these kids. They were fiercely protective and loving to her in return.

When retirement came, she and Toby sold the house in St. Louis Park and bought the house they had built when they first got married, on Bernard Street in Hurley, and came full circle, ending things where they began. Much to her delight, the art deco light fixture in their bedroom that she had picked out 64 years earlier was still there.

She was preceded in death by numerous close relatives, but most notably her son, Randy, and her mother, Elma, and father, Elmer, who were no doubt waiting in the room early on that Sunday morning to help her make the journey and perhaps take her out for a cocktail to catch up when they got there.

There is much more to say about Joan Maki Webb, but in summary, without too many superlatives, she was the most intelligent, funniest, most loyal and supportive, loving woman on the planet. Everyone who has ever known her is poorer today, and will be forever, until we meet her again.

She is survived by her husband, Toby, children, Wendy and Jack, grandchildren Ben, Sydney and Samuel, sister-in-law Mary Bonk (David), niece Sandy Moller (Dick), nephew Michael Carli (Nancy) and numerous aforementioned cousins, relatives and their dear families. Every one of you who is reading this and grieving for Joan, please know that she loved and appreciated you.

Her funeral will take place at Zion Lutheran Church in Ironwood, Mich., on March 5, at 11 a.m. Visitation starts at 10.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood. Online condolences may be expressed at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.