Joan set sail for eternal life on July 11, 2023 at the age of 88. As a beloved wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and aunt, she inspired her entire family. Her strong faith was at the core of everything she did. She greeted every day as an opportunity to do something nice for someone.

Joan grew up in the Bay View neighborhood with swimming and sailing at South Shore Yacht Club. She married the boy next door, John Niland in 1956. They shared several adventurous years living in Spain during John's service with the United States Air Force. Upon returning stateside, John and Joan raised their family in South Milwaukee. Joan enjoyed volunteering at St. Sylvester Parish and School. After John's retirement in 1994, Joan and John sailed many winters in the Caribbean on their boat "Adelia-Joe". During their cruising, John may have been the Captain but Joan was surely The Admiral.

Joan was a friend to everyone she met. She loved to learn what it was that made people tick. She enjoyed engaging with people. She loved all children and nothing topped the spark in a child's eye at play.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband John, and is survived by her son, Sean ( Sue Ann) and daughter Mary, her grand-daughters, Luthien (Karl) Locher and Alyssa Kruczkowski and her great-grandchildren, Peyton, Annastasia and Dahlia. She is also survived by her siblings, Mary Gutzwiller, Carol Orzolek, Judy Cizewski and Bill Jelinek along with numerous nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Visitation will be held from 9-11AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic church (1023 E. Russell Ave., Milwaukee) on Saturday July 22, 2023 followed by Mass at 11 AM. Inurnment will be at Holy Cross cemetery (7301 W. Nash St., Milwaukee) Monday, July 24, 2023 at 11 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Joan's honor to Immaculate Conception Parish.