Joanne Viegut
In 1935, Mae (née Maguire) Fuller and Robert Frank Fuller welcomed their first child, Joanne Mae Fuller, in Marshfield. With large green eyes, light brown hair and fair skin, Joanne continued a lineage of Fuller and Maguire beauties. Joanne had four siblings: Robert, Thomas (Mary Ellen), Helen (Kenneth Breit) and Kenneth. The family resided in the countryside in the Town of Eau Plaine in Marathon County.
The 1953 graduating class of Stratford High School voted the elegant and reserved Joanne Fuller as the ‘prettiest’ and ‘most popular’ girl in the class. Seniors also selected her to represent them on the student council. The same year, DAR chose Joanne for the Good Citizenship Award, with the main qualification that the person selected should be a good citizen in relation to her school and the people with whom she associated, attributes Joanne carried throughout her life.
After graduating, Joanne continued her education in cosmetology at the Milwaukee Accredited School of Beauty Culture in Green Bay and practiced as a beautician until her marriage. An avid reader and writer, Joanne retained a quote by George Bernard Shaw among her papers: “The more a man knows, and the farther he travels, the more likely he is to marry a country girl.” She married the handsome and athletic David A. Viegut, known as one of the ‘brainy’ boys in Stratford High School (salutatorian in 1954, while his cousin was valedictorian).
Joanne and David purchased an eighty-acre property with extraordinary views of Rib Mountain in the Town of Marathon. They had six children: David R. Viegut (Debra née Caillouette), Dr. Diane Al Shihabi (Dr. Mikesch Muecke), Dawn Waldvogel (Paul), Dr. Donald Viegut (Judy née Butenhoff), Chris Viegut (Dr. Victoria née Ware), and Lori Nahirniak (Taras). David loved and respected Joanne very much, which the children quickly realized if they ever happened to upset her. Together the couple built a successful partnership through their ginseng and forestry businesses. Joanne’s roles included employee management and relations, accounting and tax preparation, and investment planning. With constant activity, guests, responsibilities and independence, Joanne loved the years of raising ginseng. Regardless of their success, Joanne and David chose to live simple lives, helping others in need, whether family members or business associates. Joanne particularly appreciated collecting shards of broken glass and pottery found on their property, reflecting its history. The couple had nineteen grandchildren whom they adored (and vice-versa), including Zachery Viegut, David Viegut (Krista née Gorelik), Lauren Viegut, Dr. Laith Al Shihabi (Dr. Amina Merchant), Qais Al Shihabi (Sophie Dreesmann), Laila Al Shihabi (Nate Wojcik), Alyssa Waldvogel, Atina Faulks (Alex), Austin Waldvogel (Caitlyn née Love), Joshua Viegut (Sara née Adamak), Jordan Viegut (Meghan née Gibson), Dr. Logan Viegut (Carly née Burson), Abigail Viegut, August Viegut (Sara née Thielke), Dr. Alexandria Viegut, and Jonathan Viegut (Alexis née Lappe), Mykhailo Nahirniak (Kristin Henning), Tatyana Nahirniak (Andrew Hatlevig) and Andryi Nahirniak (Elise Shangold).
Joanne and David also had sixteen great-grandchildren: Cora, Amelia, Veda, and Emmett Viegut; Isam and Iman Al Shihabi: Elias, Hayah and Adam Al Shihabi; Kaia Wojcik; Ataliya Wells; Aiden, and Asher Faulks; Flynn and Brooks Viegut; and Graham Viegut.
Joanne Viegut passed away on June 11, 2024. The extraordinarily kind and musically talented Nahirniak grandchildren entertained her during her final year singing favorite songs by Elvis, John Denver and Glen Campbell. Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Mae, husband David, and granddaughter Abigail.
Visitation will be on Sunday, June 23, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Peterson/ Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau. A second visitation will be held on Monday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 229 South 28th Avenue, Wausau, followed by Mass at 11 a.m., presided by Rev. Sebastian Kolodziejczyk. Lunch will be served at noon at St. Matthew’s school cafeteria. A private family burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 25, at the Restlawn Memorial Park, 235962 North Troy Street, Wausau.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nurses and staff at Pride TLC in Weston for their compassionate and cheerful care of Joanne over the past year, and to the skilled staff at St. Croix Hospice for helping Joanne in her final days. Online condolences may be posted at petersonkraemer.com.
Paid obituary 154271
