Deanna Joy Applehans Obituary (1949 - 2015)

Deanna Joy Applehans, age 65, of Menomonie, WI passed away Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 at Mayo Clinic Health System – Eau Claire. Born, the third of four children, to George and Audrey Miller of Barron, Wisconsin, Deanna Joy Miller was born Dec. 12, 1949 and lived with her family on a turkey/dairy farm south of Barron on Highway 25. Deanna was baptized Feb. 5, 1950 and confirmed June 16, 1963 at First Lutheran Church in Barron, WI. She loved her time on the farm. An active member of the family farm, she helped with spring planting, haying, feeding the young stock, bringing the cows in for milking, milking the cows, rounding up stray turkeys and more. She was very actively involved in community activities including 4-H, church and school. 4-H provided a multitude of opportunities locally, statewide, and nationally. Deanna found a great deal of joy participating in speeches, demonstrations, sewing, showing horses and cattle, exchange trips, National 4-H Congress, and serving as a programmer for the summer Citizenship Short Course program in Washington DC. Growing up was full of many wonderful memories. Deanna was a good student and graduated from Barron High School in 1967. She attended University of Wisconsin-Stout earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics Education in 1971. While at Stout she was an active member of the Alpha Phi International Sorority, Gamma Sigma Chapter. In her later years she reignited her involvement by serving as a campus advisor to the Gamma Sigma chapter at UW-Stout. Through the choir at UW-Stout Deanna met her lifetime love, Kenneth L. Applehans. They married June 19, 1971 at First Lutheran Church in Barron. Ken was in the Air Force and they established their first home immediately in Rancho Cordova, California where Ken was stationed as an air traffic controller. Deanna accepted a position as a Home Economics and English teacher at Rancho Cordova High School. They made the most of their time in California and traveled extensively visiting the pony express trail, gold mines, redwoods, backpacking and skiing in the Sierras, wine country, San Francisco, Big Sur, The Rose Parade and much more. Ken was discharged from the Air Force in 1974 and the couple moved back to Wisconsin—Ken to finish his degree, Deanna to teach at Central and Delong Middle Schools in Eau Claire. In 1976 Ken graduated from Stout and they moved to St. Michael, Minnesota. Deanna was expecting their first child. In 1976 and 1978 God blessed Deanna and Ken with two sons – Denver Lee and Grant Robert. Deanna always thought of her children as wonderful gifts that every day made her heart sing. From little on Deanna told them the world is a big place full of knowledge, wonder and excitement. She always encouraged them to spread their wings and fly. From 1979-1980 Deanna was department chair and taught Home Economics at Buffalo High School in Buffalo, Minnesota. They spent the next couple of years managing a new business in La Crosse, Wisconsin and Owatonna Minnesota. Finally moving back to Menomonie and in 1985 where both Deanna and Ken earned Master’s degrees in Education. Deanna accepted a position at UW-Stout as a program manager in continuing education and later became the Director of Professional Education Programs until she retired in 2012. She developed and facilitated programs locally, regionally, nationally and internationally covering a multitude of topics to enrich the continuous learning of individuals in their respective fields, including early childhood, manufacturing, education, workforce development, alcohol and drug abuse, social and environmental issues much more. Deanna always believed that a strong community and a good place for children to grow up required involvement. She took every opportunity to be part of the effort and the vision. Over the years, Deanna and family were very involved in the community through church, school, Cub Scouts, 4-H, the Dunn County fair and library boards, among others. Deanna lived a good life. She was blessed with wonderful family and friends. God was with her all along the way as her compass and guide. Deanna is survived by, Kenneth L Applehans (husband), Denver L Applehans (son), Nicole Lauer Applehans (daughter-in-law), Grandchildren – London, Nalani, Sydney, and George, Grant R Applehans (son), Amanda Stamp Applehans (daughter-in-law), Georgia G Geiger (sister), Melanie J Miller (sister). Deanna was proceeded in death by George A Miller (father), Audrey A Miller (Mother), Michael S Miller (brother). A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, 2015 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Menomonie, with Pastor Heather Wigdahl officiating. There will be visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie and at the church one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Burial will be in Wayside Cemetery in Barron at 2:00 p.m. on Friday.