Joan Marie (Darrow) Thibaudeau

Joan Marie Thibaudeau (Darrow) 83, Green Bay, died May 13, 2025 at Woodside Assisted Living Manors following an extended decline after a workplace accident. Joan was born in Green Bay, Wednesday, July 23, 1941, the second of three daughters of the late Harold Leroy and Luella Margarate (Northway) Darrow. Joan was engaged in September 1959 and after graduating from Green Bay West High School in 1960 she married her high school sweetheart and dancing partner Ralph Edward Thibaudeau on Saturday, May 21, 1960 at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Green Bay and treasured 54 years of marriage before her husband Ralph preceded her in death. Their song, “Twelfth of Never” defined their love and was sung at their 50th wedding anniversary and Ralph’s burial service. Now they are together again and singing that sweet song forever as they once hoped in life.

Joan worked briefly at St. Vincent Hospital when first married. After the birth of her children she later worked for an extended period at the March of Dimes, leading fundraising, including a long standing haunted house partnered with local high school and FFA youth. She worked at Lac Bae Council Girl Scout office and was most recently a school bus driver for 15 years at Lamers Bus Company until a serious accident while driving a bus on February 15, 2024.

Joan is survived by 22 total posterity including her three children and their spouses Patrick F. (Barbara) Thibaudeau of Oakdale, Minnesota, Debra L. Thibaudeau of Green Bay, James E. (Jessica) Thibaudeau of Sobieski; 9 grandchildren and their spouses Justin (Andrea) Benz, Stephanie (Matthew) Rytting, Jonathan (Ariel) Thibaudeau, Aaron (Savanah) Thibaudeau, Ryan (Lauren) Thibaudeau, Andrew (Emma) Thibaudeau, Cole (Grace) Thibaudeau, Morgan Thibaudeau, Nathan Thibaudeau; 13 great grandchildren Cameron Tovbin (step), Natalie Rytting, Adriana Benz, Briel Mahan (step), Sarah Rytting, Dillon Mahan (step), Emily Rytting, Lydia Rytting, Amelia Thibaudeau, Jameson Thibaudeau, Aria Thibaudeau, Noah Thibaudeau, Camille Thibaudeau and one new great grandson on the way. She is also survived by her husband's siblings and/or spouses Joan McAllister, Judy Thibaudeau of Green Bay, Donna (Dale) Stary of Logan, Utah, Mary Lou (Clyde) Hansen of Arizona; her numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband Ralph Edward Thibaudeau, June 13, 2014, her parents Harold L. and Luella M. (Northway) Darrow, her sisters Patricia Ann Darrow and Nancy Lou Catherine Darrow.

Joan’s parents and older sister Patricia Ann lived at 829 Lincoln Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1940 the year before she was born and it's possible this home is where Joan lived when she was born. She then lived with her family at 914 South Ashland Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin until the summer of 1954 when homes were vacated for the construction of the viaduct over the railroad. The family then moved to 1203 South Oneida Street where she lived until she graduated high school and was married in 1960. She began her married life living in an upstairs apartment on West Mason street then lived at 1142 Doty Street, 929 Pine Street, 857 Division Street, 822 School Place and has resided in the Village of Allouez since April 1974.

Joan was a member and leader of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Auxiliary 401 in Green Bay, Wisconsin for nearly 65 years. She held numerous leadership positions at all levels. She was Local and State President, Grand Officer, Great Lakes Officer and Escort Team Captain to name a few notable examples.

Joan loved music, especially in later years she loved listening to her grandchildren sing and play. She enjoyed sacred and sentimental songs, Lawrence Welk and big bands. She sang in the high school choir, played the accordion and enjoyed dancing up to her 50th wedding anniversary and when she couldn’t dance herself she enjoyed watching others dancing.

She enjoyed time at the cabin near Crivitz until her husband Ralph died suddenly there in 2014. She loved word puzzles and watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy nightly and was an avid football fan and enjoyed the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers. Her greatest joy was her family, the Eagles Club and fundraising from worthy causes. She was known as “mom” to many beyond her biological family including most recently “my kids” referring to the passengers on her bus routes. She loved driving charters for Packer games.

Joan received many accolades and awards throughout her life including: Presidential Excellence Award from Lamers Bus Company. She also received, The President's Award, Local, State and National Hall of Fame recognition from the Eagles Auxiliary, along with numerous additional awards for service.

The family wants to offer a special thank you to Unity Hospice for their kind and compassionate service, providing mom a peaceful transition at the end of her life, especially Dr. James, Molly (social worker) and Nurses Michelle, Samatha and Wendy; staff who provided cares to mom at Woodside especially, Virginia (Ginny), Judith, Lois and Kat who gave mom her final cares; Doctors Tom and Mike Florack, Prevea Orthopedics and Tina Schmidt, Bellin PA, the Newcomer funeral directors and staff for the kind care and countless other healthcare professionals and friends who offered comfort and assistance.

Visitation and Services: Saturday, May 24, 2025 at Newcomer Funeral Home 340 S Monroe Ave, Green Bay, WI 54301. Visitation: 9 am to 10:30 am with Eagle memorial and funeral service immediately following the visitation with burial at Allouez cemetery immediately following the service. Bishop Patrick F. Thibaudeau, son, presiding.

A Live Stream of the service is available for those who cannot travel in person. Please visit Joan's obituary on the funeral home website when the service begins at 10:30 am and click on the link to view the Live Stream.

In lieu of flowers you may contribute to a memorial fund established to assist the family with the many medical and other final expenses.