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Joan Rademacher bw
Joan Rademacher

Frances Joan (Cogburn) Rademacher, of Mead, died May 8, 2021, at McKee Medical Center in Loveland. She was 88.

Frances, who was known by most as “Joanne”, was born on September 20, 1932 in Greeley. Her parents were James Western Cogburn and Lucy Gladys (James) Cogburn. Joan was a lifetime resident of Weld County and grew up on the family farm next to the St. Vrain River. Joan’s family operated a dairy and raised a variety of crops including sugar beets. Joan graduated from Johnstown High School in 1950. She excelled throughout her school years achieving several honors including Senior Class Representative, Daughters of the American Revolution, most popular girl her Senior year, lettered in basketball and a member of the Homecoming Royalty. 

The summer after graduation she met her future husband, Louis Rademacher, at a local dance. Joan and Louis were married on December 29, 1951 in Mead, Colorado at Guardian Angels Church. Joan converted to the Catholic faith shortly before being married. Joan loved the Church and Jesus for the remainder of her life. Joan was a member of the Guardian Angels parish until the time of her death. She devoted many hours supporting the Church from teaching religious education to being the president of the Altar and Rosary Society. Mom loved to be part of church dinners and events. 

Following a honeymoon trip to Arizona, Joan and Louis settled on the family farm and began raising their family. Joan and Louis’s farm is located only a mile from Joan’s family farm. Joan and Louis made a great team and were very successful at farming. Soon afterwards they purchased additional farmland and grew their legacy of family farming. Joan loved the land and the cattle. She had a real connection with cows especially when they were calving. She spent days and nights caring for the cows when they were about to birth their calves. She walked miles every day caring for the cows. Joan worked in the beet fields every summer thinning, hoeing, and weeding the fields. She was a role model for her children and taught them the value of hard work. 

Joan and the family also found time every year to go on a couple of camping trips in the Rocky Mountains including the annual peach picking “vacation” to Grand Junction. Joan was an accomplished canner, preserving hundreds of jars of fruit and vegetables every year to be enjoyed by the family through the winter months. Joan and Louis found time to travel throughout the United States including a trip to Europe. Joan also loved to attend her children's and grandchildren's sports and musical events as well as avidly following professional and college sports – especially the Denver Broncos.

Surviving are her eight children, Michael (Vicki) Rademacher and their children Hattie and daughters Samantha, Suzanna and Sophia Wilson; Jens (Aubry) and children Emma and Greyson; Donna (William) Rademacher-Anderson and their children Paige (Keith) Lamb and son Tyler; Bayleigh Anderson; Douglas (Jane) Rademacher and their children Sadie; John and daughters Alyssa and Delaney; and Jill; Richard (Sue) Rademacher and their children Mary (Alex) Carlson, Mitchell, Melissa and Eric; Dale (Karen) Rademacher and their children Kyle (Reese) and daughter Shyanne; Jeffrey (Audra); Gregory (Jennifer) and daughter Johnna; and Katerina; Dan (René Collard) Rademacher; Roger (Nathan Brooks) Rademacher; and Denise (Matt French) Rademacher and children Andrew (Haley) Rademacher-Howe, Matthew and Abigail French. She is also survived by extended family.

Joan was the youngest and last surviving member of her immediate family. She was preceded in death by her husband Louis, a daughter Mary Lucy, sisters Jessie, Maxine, and Mary Lee, brother Wayne, half-brothers Leo, Vernon, Medford, Chadburn and half-sister Mildred. 

She was the matriarch of her family and loved by her friends and neighbors. 

A private family vigil will be held at Guardian Angels Church in Mead.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 12th at 11:00 a.m. at Guardian Angels Church in Mead, with her nephew The Reverend Greg Ames officiating. Interment will follow at Foothills Gardens of Memory.

Contributions may be made to the Rademacher Family Fund, c/o Longmont Community Foundation, 636 Coffman St., Suite 203, Longmont, CO 80501.

Please visit www.howemortuary.com to share memories and condolences with the family.