Joanna H. Wise
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Joanne H. Wise, age 88, of Berwick and Eagles Mere, died at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, on July 22, 2022. Her Husband of 55 years, Robert J. Wise, predeceased her in 2009.
Joanne was born in Batavia, New York, to Augusta M. Hardick and William L. Hardick, a West Point Graduate and Brigadier General. Her father's military service required the family to move every two years. She wholeheartedly embraced this "army brat" lifestyle, which she credited with inspiring her lifelong love of travel and her unwavering love of country.
After graduating from the American High School in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1951, she attended Dickinson College, Carlisle, where she met her husband, Bob. They were married in May 1954 and settled in Berwick, where Bob managed the Wise Potato Chip Company.
Joanne supported many national charitable causes and was active in her community's Delphian Club, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Berwick Hospital Auxiliary (where she organized and directed Candy Stripers) and the March of Dimes. She gave the gift of life by donating over 50 pints of blood and was proud that she encouraged many others to do likewise.
She was a faithful and devoted member of Christ Episcopal Church in Berwick and St. John's-in-the-Wilderness Episcopal Church in Eagles Mere where she was on the Altar Guild of both churches for decades, served on the Vestry, and always active in the Episcopal Church Women. Aside from her family, her spiritual life was most important in her life.
Joanne and Bob followed their mutual needlework hobby by opening Keypoint Needlepoint in 1976 in Berwick. Joanne expressed herself and her faith through needlework. She made exquisite and complicated cross stitch angels and gave dozens of counted cross stitch pieces to friends and family which served to remind recipients of the guardian angels watching over them.
Joanne adored traveling with her husband. Although they visited countless foreign countries over the years, the trips they took in their motor home were the ones they most treasured.
Joanne's smile illuminated every room she entered and warmed the heart of everyone she met. She was gracious, down to earth, genial, always optimistic, and friendly to everyone. She maintained so many friendships throughout her life by persistently calling people to keep in touch with them, inviting friends to her home or visiting them. Additionally, she loved a good game of Bridge and played in many Bridge groups.
She will be deeply missed by her three children: Laurie (Thomas) Burkholder of Eagles Mere; Catherine Wise of Eagles Mere; Robert, Jr (Tami) Wise of Chester Springs as well as by her six grandchildren Matthew Wise, Robert Wise, III, William Crocker (Tiina), Mary Crocker, Andrew Burkholder (Kristin), and Robert Burkholder (Caitlin). Her four great grandchildren are Norah and Joseph Burkholder and August and Lucas Burkholder.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Joanne's life may be given to Christ Episcopal Church, 712 East 16th Street, Berwick, PA 18603 or St. John's-in-the-Wilderness Episcopal Church, PO Box 65, Eagles Mere, PA 17731.
Visitation will be held from 12 Noon -2 PM Friday July 29 followed by a 2 PM funeral service. Both will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, Berwick. Joanne's interment at Pine Grove Cemetery Annex is private.
The Kelchner, McMichael & Readler Funeral Home, Inc. is honored to serve the Wise family. Online messages of comfort and support may be left at www.kelchnerfuneralhome.com.