Joanne I. Fredrickson, 60, of Kenosha, died surrounded by her loving family at Clairidge House after a short battle with brain cancer on February 15, 2025.
Joanne was born on March 24, 1964, to Robert “Bob” Fredrickson Sr. and Carole Fredrickson at Kenosha Memorial Hospital. She was educated in the schools of Kenosha County and graduated from Westosha Central High School in 1982. After high school, Joanne obtained an accounting degree at Gateway Technical College.
On June 4, 1994, Joanne married Bryan J. Coats in Waukegan, IL. While the marriage ended in divorce on February 28, it produced her only child Zachary “Zach” Coats, whom Joanne considered her best friend.
Joanne worked as a medical biller for the rest of her life. Her workplaces included Vista Health System in Waukegan, IL, Community Health Systems in Fort Wayne, IN, and recently Healthcare Resource Group from home. After practicing the religion of Eckankar for nearly a decade, Joanne’s accounting prowess enabled her to serve as ECK’s chief financial officer for the Wisconsin chapter.
A Wisconsin native, Joanne bled green and gold–and always reminded everyone of it. While not watching football, Joanne loved to crochet, cook, and watch reruns on MeTV. The first word to describe Joanne? Stubborn. But friends and family also knew Joanne as a driven, generous
woman who put everyone at ease with her smile and clever wit. Even her son’s childhood cat, Gulliver saw something in Joanne, as he rubbed against her first during his adoption in 2003. Joanne cherished being an aunt to her many nieces and nephews, and assisting her parents as
they advanced in age. In her father’s words, Joanne was a helpful daughter who will be dearly missed. Most of all, Joanne treasured being a mother to her son, Zach. Despite an at times tumultuous relationship, Joanne got to see her son grow as he worked at the Kenosha Yacht Club and eventually pursue horticulture at Gateway Technical College. On occasion, Joanne & Zach made trips to landmarks in and around Wisconsin–most notably to the Willis (Sears) Tower in 2014.
Joanne was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Bryan, who Joanne still aided during times of need. Survivors include her parents in Rhinelander, WI, her son Zach Coats, sister Diane Childers and her partner Charlie Serrano, a sister Kathy (Gregg) Willitis of Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, and Bob (Mickey) Fredrickson Jr. of Bristol, a large extended family scattered throughout Wisconsin, and the numerous friends Joanne has made over the years.
Per Joanne’s request, an Eckankar memorial service will be held at Lord of Life Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. A visitation with the family will also take place at church from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service.
Mourners are encouraged to represent the Green Bay Packers or any Wisconsin sports team. Non-sports fans can opt for Joanne’s favorite colors of purple and red.
