Joan Catherine De Prey Hogan passed away Friday, August 21, 2026, at the age of 94. She was born on December 29, 1931, the seventh of 10 children, to the late Euphrasia (Kaster) De Prey and Joseph De Prey of De Prey's General Store in Bellevue, WI.

Joan attended St Francis Xavier Cathedral grade school and graduated from St Joseph Academy in 1949. She earned her bachelor's degree in history from St. Norbert College in 1955 and was one of the first women to graduate from the college. Upon graduation, Joan worked as a social worker for the Diocese of Green Bay. During that time, she met and married James C. (Jim) Hogan. Their marriage on June 9, 1956, blossomed into their family of six children.

Joan's long life was marked by her fierce love of and loyalty to her family and service to others. She was involved in numerous community organizations and served on several boards in varying capacities, including, among others: Resurrection Catholic Parish (both on the parish council and as parish administrator), Brown County Historical Society, Family Service Association, Service League of Green Bay and most recently, Friends of Haiti, a non-sectarian 501(C)3 that strives to bring the most basic of human services to the people of the central plain and mountains of Haiti. Over many decades, Joan and Jim participated in and supported dozens of organizations that helped people lift themselves up.

In 1981 Joan was awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award in Humanities by St Norbert College, honoring her for her outstanding accomplishments. She was a champion of social justice throughout much of her life. She did not seek recognition for her contributions to the greater good but worked determinedly to see them through.

Joan attributed her passion for service to growing up during the Great Depression in a large family of modest means. Her mother never turned away "knights of the road" without providing at least a sandwich or two. During WWII the family's general store served as a collection point for supplies, and Joan recalled harvesting the silk from milkweed pods for life jackets for American sailors. She was fond of saying that she recycled before the word was invented!
Together with Jim, Joan created a warm and wonderful family home, a haven of safety and security, nurturing, caring and great fun, and a place where everyone was welcome. There was always room at the dinner table for whoever dropped by unannounced, and holidays were filled with special touches and traditions that were passed down through the years and are carried on today. Joan and Jim threw grand dinner parties that went on well into the wee hours, and the house was filled with laughter and singing.

They were passionate about education, the arts and athletics and encouraged their children to follow their interests and dreams and enabled that as much as possible. Joan was tireless in her support for her family and extended family and stayed connected to everyone throughout the years. She spent many years caring for Jim with great dignity and respect until his death.

Joan was a voracious reader, an accomplished seamstress and knitter, and an amateur artist, baker, and tennis player. She ran an efficient yet relaxed household. She was known for her homemade bread, her incredible kuchen, baked beans, peanut butter balls, sour cream cookies, holiday fruitcake, Bailey's Irish Cream cheesecake, and of course red velvet cake, among many other specialties.

Upon the birth of her first grandchild, Joan began sewing flannel quilts for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many of which are still in circulation. She always had a full jar of Smarties in the kitchen, and a cabinet full of toys and art supplies, and a closet full of dress-up clothes. She even let the grandkids play games on her computer. Joan recognized and celebrated the individuality of each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and formed a unique and special relationships with each of them.

Joan is survived by her six children: Denis (Irene), Eileen (Marvin Keith) Braxton, Michael (Rose), Kate Hogan (Mark Rudolph), Patrick (Jill) and Claire (Steve) Williams; 14 grandchildren: Brigid Hogan, Kevin (Alex) Hogan, Margaret (Tim) Smoot; Zachary (Rachel) Braxton, Blaire Braxton; Lauren Hogan (Joe Kirschbaum), Benjamin Hogan (Zoua Sylvia Yang), Michaela (Jacob) Hofer; Bailey Rudolph (Chad Cannon), Mitchell (Elly Laggis) Rudolph; Kelly Hogan, Conor Hogan; Morgan Vande Hei and Elizabeth Williams; 12 great-grandchildren: Clare Ann, Elaine, Hazel and baby Smoot, Dominic, Anna, Norah, Caroline, Orrin, Quinn, Eleanor and Thomas.

She is further survived by brother Bernard De Prey and sisters Ann De Prey and Mary Rose De Prey, sister-in-law Nancy De Prey, many godchildren and many cherished nieces and nephews on both the De Prey and Hogan sides of the family.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents and six of her siblings: Veronica Gnadt, Joseph De Prey, Phyllis De Prey, John De Prey, Ceil De Prey and Catherine Huisman; sister-in-law Patricia Gaynor De Prey and Irene De Prey; brothers-in-law Alois Gnadt and Wayne Huisman; nephews Mark Gnadt, Matthew De Prey, and Joseph De Prey and niece Ellen De Prey; brother and sister-in-law Richard "Dick" and Joan C. Hogan; niece Mary Hogan Bencini and nephew Robert "Bob" Hogan.

In her later years, dementia was not kind to Joan, but it could not erase the woman she was. The vast majority of her life, Joan was a knitter of much good in this world. She wasn't perfect, but she was perfectly human. She will be greatly missed, but because Joan was a firm believer in eternal life, we know we all will be together again one day.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to the following:

• Wolfgang and Carlyn Weiler who gave her great joy in their friendship & love.

• Joan's good friends and former neighbors who continued to visit when she could no longer go out.

• Diane Johnson and Ali Mathison who cared for our Mom from the onset of health challenges.

• Cornerstone Caregivers for their dedicated team of caregivers who showed up every day. Too many to list but we are grateful for those who provided care for 3 years.

• HYGEE Nursing Service, caregivers Ellen, Andrea and Melissa.

• Eden Vista Assisted Living with special thanks to Jen, Doug and Marcus who shepherded her through her last weeks.

• Unity Hospice, who provided our mother with the dignity and respect she so deserved in her final days and helped us help her.

Most especially, we wish to express our deepest gratitude to our sister, Kate Hogan, for her tireless devotion to the care and dignity of our beloved mother in her last years.

Friends may call at Resurrection Catholic Church, 333 Hilltop Dr., on Thursday, September 3, from 9 to 10:45 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m., 333 Hilltop Dr., Green Bay, WI 54301. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers, and in the spirit of Joan's service to others, memorials may be sent to:

• Friends of Haiti, P.O. Box 1174, Green Bay, WI 54305

• Brown County Historical Society, 1008 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay, WI 54301.