(1934-2025)

Sister Joanne Wimmer, formerly known as Sister James Alice Wimmer, died on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 90 years of age and in the 64th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Joanne was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to James and Alice (Malone) Wimmer. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Des Moines, Iowa, and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. 

Sister Joanne spent 6½ years ministering as an elementary teacher in Paw Paw, Michigan, and Chicago and Joliet, Illinois. She was an auditor for four years for Arthur Anderson & Co., Chicago, and a cost accountant for one year at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, also in Chicago. She served in the finance office as auditor and chief accountant for seven years at St. Rose De Lima Hospital in Henderson, Nevada, and as senior financial analyst for 19 years at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, California, both legacy institutions of the Congregation. Sister Joanne also ministered for the Congregation in Adrian for five years in the Finance and Information offices and was administrative assistant for six years at the Dominican West Chapter Office in San Francisco, California. 

Sister Joanne became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2015. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Susan Mimick. Sister is survived by a brother, James (Nan) Wimmer, other loving family members, and her Adrian Dominican Sisters. 

Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery. 

Those not attending services in person are welcome to participate via live stream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Note: To view recordings with closed captioning, they must be viewed on our public video library rather than through the links below.

Recording of Sister Joanne's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Joanne's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

 

LEFT: Joanne with her mother Alice. MIDDLE LEFT: Joanne at the age of 5. MIDDLE RIGHT: Joanne, standing, left, with her mother Alice, brother James, and little sister Susan. RIGHT: Joanne with her father James during his time in the Navy.

MIDDLE: Sister Joanne Wimmer in her graduation photo from St. Joseph Academy in Des Moines, Iowa, 1952. RIGHT: Members of the Alavida Mission Group meeting in Santa Cruz, California in 2004, are: standing, from left, Sisters Judith Benkert, Carolyn Roeber, Corinne Florek, Mary Ellen Leciejewski, and Ann Marie Wood, and seated, from left, Sisters Claudia Morgan, Judy Rimbey, Joanne Wimmer, and Virginia King.

RIGHT: Members of the 2010 Golden Jubilee June 1960 Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Patricia Fischer, Joann Plumpe, Barbara Jean Quincey, Joanne Wimmer, Anita Chiappetta, June Mary Deswysen, and Mary Helen Smolbrook; middle row, from left, Sisters Diane Pitera, Patricia Benson, Joanne Peters, Mary Katherine Homan, Grace Gianella, Kathleen Erard, Catherine Ormond Olds, and Helen Faiver; and front row, from left, Sisters Mary Elizabeth Gaiss, Joan Lawrence Sustersic, Juliann Flynn, Susan Marie Ouwerkerk, Maryetta Churches, Janet Marie Fulgenzi, Patricia Erickson, and Donna Markham (Prioress). Not pictured is Sister Ann Rena Shinkey.

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