Carolyn Mae Joss

Carolyn Mae (nee Happe) Joss of Grafton, Wis., passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Lumia Memory Care in Mequon, Wis.  She was 83 years old.  

Carolyn was born on June 2, 1942, in Spirit Lake, Iowa, the daughter of Leo and Jessie (nee Poyzer) Happe.  

She grew up in Spirit Lake and graduated from Spirit Lake High School. Carolyn then went on to attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  

On June 13, 1964, she married Ken Joss at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. 

Carolyn worked at Frommelt Industries in Dubuque, Iowa, and then for Rite Hite in Brown Deer, Wis.  

After retiring, she stayed active in the church choir at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Cedarburg, Wis., and volunteered at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts in Cedarburg.

Carolyn is survived by daughter Andrea (Mike) Jewett; sons Neil (Megan Menzel) and Steve Joss; grandchildren Ben Jewett, Sara Jewett (Chris Sardinas), Alexa Joss, Tyler Joss, Kennedy Menzel, Callie Menzel and Maclayne Menzel; great-granddaughter Jamie Sardinas; brother Mark Happe; and many other relatives and friends.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her son Darrin Joss and her sisters Joanne Shuck, Margo Brockmeyer and Melva Jackson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, 1375 Covered Bridge Rd., Cedarburg, Wis. Father Patrick Burns will preside over the Mass. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. until the Mass.  

Inurnment will take place at St. Francis Borgia Parish Cemetery.

Immediately following the Mass, the family invites friends and family to a luncheon in the church gathering hall.  

Eernisse Funeral Home, Cedarburg, is honored to serve the Joss family. 

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.