Lorraine "Toots" Theresa (Wanke) Justmann passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025 at the Markesan Resident Home where she had resided for the past nine months.  Toots was a devout Catholic who lived her faith each and every day with at least one rosary being said.  No matter where she was, she always prayed before eating.  Her life can best be described by family, friends, food, flowers and fun.  In her 93 years with us, she experienced an abundance of each.

Funeral services for Lorraine Justmann will be held on Friday, December 26 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Holy Family), 41 St. Joseph St, Markesan.  Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9-11 followed by Mass at 11:00.  Burial will follow at Ticorah Cemetery in the Township of Mackford.

Toots was born on March 4, 1932 to John and Irene (Pitterle) Wanke.  Her father John was killed in a car accident when she was three months old.  Her mother raised her on a farm outside of Clyman, WI along with her two brothers, Harold and LaVern. Toots was a talker and sometimes this got her into a bit of trouble.  In 1947, she wrote a story about her first motorcycle ride with a boy that she didn't tell her mother about.  In the story, they are traveling at 98 mph, and she didn't know if she would ever ride one again.  But she met a boy on the farm next door, Clark Justmann, and he had a Harley Davidson motorcycle.  Toots attended St.Henry's Catholic School through 8th grade and graduated from Watertown High School in 1950.  She married Clark on September 16, 1950 at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Watertown.  Six months later, Clark was drafted to Korea, and Toots went back home and lived with her mom for the next two years. She worked at the Watertown Shoe Factory as well as Handcraft in Markesan.   In 1958, they moved to Markesan where they owned Justmann Implement for several  years.  They sold the business and then owned Justmann Burial Vaults. Clark and Toots were married 39 years before Clark  passed away in April 1990.  Together they raised three children; Julianne, Bonnie and Dale.

Toots could never sit still for very long.  She was a people person and loved to keep busy.  Over the years, she crocheted close to 100 afghans– many given away for door prizes. In her later years, she worked for Del Monte Corp. during the summers first as a cook in the kitchen, and then later nights at the scale house weighing trucks.  She always had cookies and treats for the drivers including sugar free for the diabetics.  She also worked as a receptionist for her son-in-law Gary during the tax season.  She was quick to point out that she had no secretarial skills, but she knew people and loved to bake so there were always fresh cookies. She was a devoted supporter of the Markesan Fire Department and was recognized as a Friend of the Fire Dept.  Two times,(2001 & 2020) Toots was named as Citizen of the Year in Markesan.  For 52 years, she was the sexton for Markesan Cemetery and also for Mackford..  She volunteered for 30 years at the Catholic Mass at Markesan Resident Home getting patients to the chapel.  She was known locally for her baking– especially her bread.  She loved to give it away to neighbors, family and friends. She was a member of the Catholic Knights for over 75 years, Ladies Society of St. Joseph's & Church Council and the Markesan Historical Society.

Over the years, she relished the arrival of grandchildren: Betsy Born (John Stockman), Lindsay (Nathan) Machkovich, Adam (Danielle) Born, Josh Williams (Dr. Molly Meier), Randi Leah (Mike) Rowley, Matt (Karen) Austin, and Amy Rabe.  The grands loved having sleepovers at Grandma's because she had sugar cereal and unlimited television, homemade bread and cookies.

As she retired from her other jobs, she welcomed 16 great grandchildren who called her Grandma Toots: Ivy, Pierce, Sterling, Arlo, Mia, Tessa, Zander, Anya, Oliver, Harvey, Ike, Ginger, Sam, Wyatt, Payton and Brinley. Everyone loved visiting Grandma Toots because she always had chocolate covered raisins, cookies, candy and even homemade bread.

Toots loved gardening and plants.  She especially enjoyed digging and planting potatoes.  Her grandson Matt made her a raised bed in her backyard which allowed her to keep planting potatoes and tomatoes.  She loved making her salsa.  Jars were marked with X's to identify the spiciness. Toots always had plants and flowers.  She commented that she would rather enjoy flowers while she was alive than have them on her grave at the end.  Toots was always up for a good time and having fun.  She and Clark were part of the original Snowdrifters Snowmobile club.  She traveled to Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Colorado, Maine, Disney World and when she was 85, went to Italy with her two daughters.

Lorraine is survived by her children: Julianne (Gary) Born, Ripon; Bonnie Chaon, Ripon and Dale (Jeannine) Justmann, Markesan; brother-in-law John (Frances) Justman,  Fruita, CO, 7 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, husband Clark, brothers Harold Wanke, LaVern Wanke, brothers-in-law Conrad Metz, Harold Klecker, Dennis Justmann and Jerome Justmann, sisters-in-law Gertrude Wanke, Mary Wanke, Evelyn Metz, Elaine Klecker, Mary Justmann and Ruth Justmann, son-in-law Don Chaon and infant granddaughter Mildred Sarah Williams..

Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services, 181 S. Main St., Markesan is honored to be serving the family.