Joseph David Kooiman

Joe Kooiman, age 54, died unexpectedly at his home in Madison, WI on August 16. Joe was born on July 18, 1956 in Richland Center, Wisconsin as the first born child of Paul and Janet Kooiman. When Joe was a preschooler, his family moved to the Old Lone Rock Mill farm north of Lone Rock, WI. He spent his entire childhood with his five siblings playing on the farm and around the old flour mill building, as well as helping with crops, livestock and numerous pets. He graduated as part of the River Valley Class of 1974 in Spring Green, WI. Joe loved art and music. He was a talented painter and drew with pen and ink. His style was abstract and sometimes whimsical. He had a large, eclectic collection of music and had played the guitar since he was a teenager. Joe also enjoyed travel, which he did extensively around the U.S., particularly in the west and northwest. Joe was employed as a nurse's aide. He worked for the same employer for several years doing in-home health care. He had a caring, empathetic way that no doubt made his clients comfortable. Joe will be remembered fondly by the staff at the Mental Health Center of Dane County, where he received services for many years. He enjoyed living in Madison, often taking in the coffee shops, music venues and street life of the Isthmus area. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, F. Paul Kooiman and Janet (Savacool) Kooiman. He is survived by his siblings: Barbara Kooiman, Christopher (Cindy) Kooiman, Laura Kooiman (Mitch Lambley), Karl (Cindy) Kooiman, and Thomas (Elizabeth Lucke') Kooiman, as well as nieces and nephews Jennifer (Kooiman) Mohr, Katherine (Kooiman) Mella, Zachary Kooiman, Sophie Kooiman, Sylvia Lambley and great-nephew Malcolm Mohr. He was also preceded in death by his 21 year old cat, Kitty, who died in April of this year. Joe will receive a private burial at the Button Cemetery in Richland County near Gotham, WI. A memorial service for Joe will be at the Bear Valley (Brown Church) Cemetery on Hwy 130 where it intersects with County Hwy B north of Lone Rock on Sunday, September 5 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations in Joe's name be made to: Friends of the Little Brown Church, P.O. Box 433, Lone Rock, WI  53556; or to Dane County Humane Society, 5132 Voges Rd., Madison, WI 53718-6941. Joe was deeply loved by his family and friends. His caring, empathetic and generous nature will be missed.

Friends and co-workers can contact the family through the following e-mail:  Kooiman@Hotmail.com or P.O. Box 44604 Madison WI, 53744.   Please be sure to include your return address.