JoAnn Cates

JoAnn Cates age 95 formally of Elkhorn, WI died on Thursday February 26, 2026, at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center, Elkhorn, WI. JoAnn was the daughter of the late Melvin George and Ella (Robinson) Peterson Sr., born on July 12, 1930, in Elkhorn, WI. JoAnn was married to John Edwin Cates on October 15, 1949; together they raised their family and shared a lifetime of creating wonderful memories together until the time of his passing in 2021. JoAnn very much enjoyed reading, coloring, doing word searches, listening to music, taking walks, and doing so every day. In her younger years she worked on the dairy farm alongside her husband and their three children, and after farming, moved on to work for Ajay Sports located in Delavan for 25 years until her retirement in 1995. JoAnn enjoyed all forms of nature, including watching birds at the bird feeders, the deer grazing in the yard, the turkeys strolling by, and the squirrels building their winter nests. She was an avid and resolute college and NFL football follower and a committed Green Bay Packers fan. JoAnn and John lived at Westshire Farms until John’s passing, then moving in with her daughter Sue and Larry. She grew to love and very much enjoyed the company of our “fur-babies,” the family dogs. Above all JoAnn had a deep love for her family and did her best to let them know how significantly her life was enriched by the family, always making it their mission to include her in every family gathering and honor her the way they did.

JoAnn is survived by her children; Susan (Larry Sandy) Jensen, Cindy Cates, Mark (Cindy Smith) Cates; sister-in-law Ila Cates; six grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents; and brother; Melvin George Peterson Jr.

A Memorial Service will take place for JoAnn at Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral and Crematory 730 N. Wisconsin Street Elkhorn, WI 53121 at 11AM on Saturday March 14, 2026. Visitation will take place before the service beginning at 10:00AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in JoAnn’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.