Jo Ann Tremain

An angel arrived on Earth when JoAnn May Avery was born in San Francisco, CA on February 8, 1943. She and her family moved to Mauston, WI shortly thereafter. Here, she met her lifelong friend, Sandy Wedekind, (whom you will hear more about later, because she played such a memorable and whimsical role in JoAnn’s life).

JoAnn met and fell in love with Steve Tremain when she was in 10th grade at Mauston High School. She earned her AAS in Commercial Art from Madison Area Technical College and later married her high school sweetheart, Steve, on April 10, 1965.

Everyone should be so blessed to have the friendship that JoAnn and Sandy had. The two of them engaged in hijinks which often centered around Elvis Presley. If JoAnn or Sandy could have two husbands simultaneously, Elvis would have been the other man. JoAnn harnessed her artistic energy at one of Elvis’s shows to create a large banner which she taped to the wall below her and Sandy’s concert seats. The bedazzled poster boldly proclaimed “Elvis, to heck with the scarves—we want your BOD!”  JoAnn and Sandy also risked life and limb for Elvis’s scarves.

In addition to her lifelong pursuit of Elvis, JoAnn was a children’s librarian and storyteller du jour at the Waunakee library.  She developed a fabulous witch cackle and even adopted a witch muppet that she named ‘Peanut Butter’. When asked why she named her ‘Peanut Butter’, she matter-of-factly replied, “Because, she is a SAND WITCH!”

JoAnn, her husband Steve, and others were instrumental with bringing arts to Waunakee with the creation of the Waunakee Arts Council, which eventually brought the Waunakee Art Fair and Volksfest to the community.

She had a passion for sharing her artistic talents with all who would need her. She was commissioned to create a political banner for Presidential candidate John B. Anderson in 1980. She painted theater sets for her children’s high school plays. She was also actively involved in painting a mural with the students at Waunakee Elementary school, and taught art classes to 4H'ers.

In addition to JoAnn’s artistic talents, she donned a number of hats throughout her life: as a layout artist for the Waunakee Tribune and as a public servant for the State of WI Department of Transportation.

She also was an incredible cook and was featured in the Wisconsin State Journal for her delicious prime rib and Yorkshire pudding.

Throughout her life, she educated her children about important causes and encouraged them to leave their positive footprints of change along their life’s paths. She was particularly passionate about women’s causes, the arts, animal welfare, and political campaigns.

JoAnn had such a colorful life’s path, although she also experienced some very painful moments along the way. She and Steve lost their youngest child, Stephen Craig, to congenital lung disease in 1970.

JoAnn is also preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Maxine Avery, and sisters, Kathleen and Pam.

Those who carry on JoAnn’s legacy include her husband, Steve; children, Laura (Bryan), Toby (Jeff), Annie (Dennis), Nicole (Chris), and Joseph. Grandchildren include Christopher, Hannah, Amber, Cameron, Lon, Austin, Jaden, Liam, Zoe and Katy, and great-granddaughter, Izzy.

Dementia ultimately took this beautiful soul from us when her earthly life ended on December 28, 2020.

In memory of JoAnn, her family encourages you to immerse yourselves in the arts; to listen to some Elvis music, put Graceland on your bucket list and make something for dinner the old-fashioned way—entirely from scratch. Lastly, they encourage you to put some love into your surroundings and continue to make the world a better place.

The Tremain Family held a private visitation on January 5th. A celebration of JoAnn’s life will take place when the world situation permits a safe and more substantial gathering.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Agrace Hospice Center.  They beautifully supported JoAnn and her family during the final and most difficult days of her life.

For all of those who were blessed with having known her, the Tremain Family hopes that fond memories of her will always bring a smile to your face and light into your life.

Winn-Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

5785 Hwy Q, Waunakee

(608) 849-4513