JoAnne M. Valkema, age 87 of Freeport, IL, passed away Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Manor Court in Freeport. She was born March 9, 1930; the daughter of the late Colin and Marie (Bloom) MacKenzie. She graduated from Freeport High School and went on to attend UW Madison. Joanne married Quentin Valkema on October 20, 2000.
She had worked as a computer operator in Madison, WI at WISC-TV for 20 years, retiring in 1994. She enjoyed going out to eat and having coffee with friends. She also loved classical music and attending band concerts, especially watching her husband play in the Freeport Concert Band. Joanne was also an avid Packer and Cubs fan.
She is survived by her sons, Dirk Bakken of Florida, Torin (Lisa) Bakken of Green Bay, WI, and Eric Bakken of Madison, WI; grandchildren, Tony & Damien Bakken; step-son, Daniel (Janine) Valkema of Bolingbrook, IL; step-grandchildren, Hunter & Hayden Valkema; sister, Agatha Pudlas of Forreston, IL; and brothers, Don MacKenzie of Albuquerque, NM and Grant MacKenzie of Idaho. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Quentin; step-son, Jim Valkema; and sisters-in-law, Estelle, Helen and Clarlyn.
The funeral service will be held Friday, November 24th at 10:00 am at Walker Mortuary in Freeport with a visitation before the service beginning at 9:00 am. Interment will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport. A memorial fund has been established for the Learning Center at the Masonic Temple and the Stephenson County Senior Center Transportation Fund. .