SORENSON, Joanne G., age 86

Died: Sunday, May 3rd, 2026

Prayer Service: 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the funeral home

Visitation: from 11:00 a.m. until time of service

The celebration of mom's life will continue at Lake Hallie Golf Course (2196 110th Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729) from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Private interment

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be welcomed by the family in memory of Joanne which will be shared with organizations/charities that were close to her heart.

Joanne G. Sorenson on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the age 86, ran for the very first time straight into the arms of her heavenly Father. Together they're dancing down the jeweled streets of heaven celebrating her new pain-free life. 

Joanne was born and raised in Eau Claire, living first on Germania Street. As the family grew, they moved to Randall Street and then to a home on Babcock Street. Out of the 10 children in the family, Joanne fell in the middle. The 8 girls and 2 boys were good kids, children of Marie Irene (nee Pitts) and Joseph Odin Johnson. Joanne was a proud Norwegian and proud graduate of Regis High School.

The siblings grew up as best friends. In their teenage years, the girls would gather on the front porch in the summertime to enjoy each other's company and collectively became known as "The Johnson Girls." Later in life, many times they would be approached and asked, "Are you a Johnson Girl?" They loved it! (A grandson was asked by an older friend of his dad's, "Was your grandma a Johnson Girl?" He was old enough to know the answer. "Yes!" he said proudly.)   

Joanne and Richard (aka, Dick, Rich, or Richie) Eisold married on February 17, 1958. They raised four children on Randall Street - Cindy, Mark, Toni, and Gary. In February 1978 the family was shocked when Dick, at age 40, suddenly passed away due to a misdiagnosed medical condition, leaving Joanne a single mom with all four children still at home. The youngest, Gary age 14 at the time, asked "How are we going to afford to live?" She assured him all would be fine as she silently wondered the same thing.

With a frugal mindset, Joanne forged ahead meeting the family's financial needs with Dick's pension from the City of Eau Claire and her income from Midway Motor Lodge. Thankfully she was surrounded by a large network of family and friends for emotional support.

In 1980, Joanne was out for a night of dancing with a girlfriend when a handsome man approached her. Looking cute in his white turtleneck with his friendly smile, he asked her to dance, and she was smitten before they left the dance floor. Paul and Joanne Sorenson were united in marriage on September 18, 1981, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. To celebrate their love, they married again on September 23, 2016, in the Catholic church. They had two wedding dates, but only one loving marriage of 36 years before Paul passed away in June 2018.    

Joanne is survived by her children, Cindy (Rick) Larson, Mark (Kathy) Eisold, Toni (Steve Miller) Eisold, and Gary (Nancy) Eisold; grandchildren, Joseph (Andra) Johnson, Amanda (Chris) Nelson, Jacob (Jenna) Eisold, Dean (Kelsey) Eisold, Richard Duss, Jillian Duss, and Nicole (Spencer Hoeft, fiancé) Lurndahl; several great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren. Also wishing her safe passage are her youngest sister, Linda (Steve) Des Forge; brothers-in-law, Neil Bradford and Harry Millwood; and sister-in-law, Janet Sorenson; along with many other family members and friends. 

Joanne is welcomed home by her parents; husbands, Dick and Paul; brothers, Odin Johnson and Rick Johnson; sisters, Florence (Al "Bud") Weichert, Marcy Hanson, Joyce (Dave) Smith, Shirley Millwood, Yvonne Bradford, and Judy (Gary) Burns; brother-in-law, John Sorenson; and former son-in-law, Terry Duss. 

God has promised: He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Rev 21:4

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  Romans 8:18

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8

Joanne wants us all to remember to "Leave a Little Room for God" (as sung by her "other man" - Neil Diamond).  

The family graciously thanks Joanne's many medical providers at facilities in the Eau Claire area and Rochester, MN. Heartfully, we thank the staff at Care Partners-Birch St. and St. Croix Hospice for their loving care of our mom. She certainly felt the love and so did we!