Joan Carolyn Patrick, 94 years of age, died peacefully on November 6, 2025, at the Country House Residence in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home in Grand Island is entrusted with the arrangements.

Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. prior to the funeral service at the church.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 14, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 212 West 12th Street, Grand Island, with Pastor Adam Snoberger officiating.

The funeral service will be live-streamed and can be found at trinitylutherangi.org.

Burial will be held in the Grand Island City Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran School or the Nebraska Division of the Izaak Walton League of America.

Joan was born April 13, 1931, in Grand Island to Charles "Charlie" G. and Mathilda (Schroeder) Wetzel. She was a third-generation Nebraskan. Her grandparents, Charles G. Wetzel and Anna Marie (Schmidt) Wetzel, both immigrated from Germany and homesteaded in Hayestown, Nebraska, in 1889 near the Ravenna and Boelus areas.

Joan was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was a devoted life-long member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She attended Trinity Lutheran school from kindergarten to 8th grade and graduated from Grand Island Senior High School in 1949.

After graduation, she worked at Bowen Drug Store and had thoughts of becoming a pharmacist. Joan later joined her father and two brothers in the family business, Wetzel Distributing Company, where she was employed for 42 years, retiring in 1993.

Joan married Kenneth W. Patrick on June 8, 1968, in a memorable outdoor wedding held on the Platte River at the Wetzel cabin built by her father, Charlie. Together, Joan and Ken became the caretakers of the Wetzel cabin, hosting multitudes of friends and family. Everyone was always welcome to the cabin and to enjoy nature.

She was an active outdoorswoman and member of the Izaak Walton League, serving as State Secretary and State Vice President. She also helped to charter the Platte Valley Lady Ikes in 1966 and was active until the time of her death. Joan was devoted to her church and filled leadership roles, including altar guild and collections.

Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.

Joan is preceded in death by her husband Ken, infant daughter Christine, her parents, and three brothers, Charles (Josephine), Donald (Eunice), and Howard (Phyllis).

Condolences to the family and sharing of memories may be signed at www.livson.com.