Elizabeth Joan (Freisberg) Dancer (July 13, 1933 – June 26, 2024)
Elizabeth Joan (Freisberg) Dancer, fondly known as Joan (pronounced Jo-Ann), was born in 1933 in Petrolia, KS, to Jacob and Marie Freisberg. Named after her Aunt Elizabeth, she grew up in Caney, KS, as one of six children in a lively household filled with love and laughter.
Joan's early years were spent exploring the wonders of small-town life, with favorite memories including taking over her brother’s paper route, swimming in Havana Lake, walking the railroad tracks with her high school girlfriends and getting together with relatives. In 1951, she graduated from Caney High School, taking her first steps into a new life that would soon broaden her world.
Joan married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Dean Dancer, in 1954, launching a lifelong journey of love and companionship that spanned 65 years. Jerry's 20-year Navy career took them on adventures across the country and abroad, and Joan embraced each new location with enthusiasm and grace – single-handedly raising their three children, Kim, Mark and Cecily, during Jerry’s eight to nine-month deployments. Over the years, Joan balanced her responsibilities with additional roles, including working as a telephone operator, volunteering as a hospital candy striper, working on the Matel toy assembly line, completing a technical certification to become a key punch operator and working the night shift entering data for the government census. All a testament to her many skills and endless energy.
Together, Joan and Jerry made friends and community wherever they went. Engaging in everything from block parties, bridge club and wine tasting parties to late nights full of cards and conversation, they built lasting friendships in places including Caney, Florida, Texas, Washington, Japan, California, Maryland, New Jersey and Wisconsin. Always active, they pursued hobbies including cross-country skiing and golf in their free time. In later years and through their retirement, they planned family vacations and traveled to destinations including Canada, Alaska, Germany (to visit her German relatives) and Mexico.
Known for her ability to charm a room full of strangers, Joan never missed an opportunity to make others laugh and loved acting unexpectedly to surprise and delight those around her. Most recently, she attended her 90th birthday party dressed as her life-long idol, Elvis, a perfect example of the fun she carried with her throughout all her days.
Joan was a beacon of strength and generosity, always putting her family above all else. She was a second-mother to each of her eight grandchildren, creating magical memories in the Caney golf course house, taking long road trips in their conversion van and attending sports games, graduations and countless other life events. Meeting her five great-grandchildren over the past seven years, Joan has continued to pass down these gifts to each generation.
On June 26, 2024, at the age of 90, Joan's incredible journey came to an end, leaving behind a legacy of love, courage, and indomitable spirit. She will continue to serve as a role model for making the most of simple joys, the things that make life truly remarkable.
Joan was predeceased by her husband, Jerry Dancer, daughter, Elizabeth Kim Dancer, and four of her siblings: Jacob E. Freisberg, Mary (Freisberg) Matkin, Fred Freisberg and John Freisberg. She is survived by two children, Mark and Cecily Dancer, her grandchildren, Michael (Heather) Russo, Alyse (Alex) Matteson, Kirby (Bob) Hamilton, Jacob Rogers, Clair Rogers, Thomas Rogers, Steven Dancer and Patrick Dancer, her five great-grandchildren (two of which are her namesakes), her brother, Butch Freisberg, and her Sister-in-law, Jackie Freisberg.
Joan will be deeply missed by her family and friends, who are each invited to toast her memory with her signature cocktail, a vodka on the rocks.
Reciting of the Rosary will be held on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 6pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Caney, KS. The Funeral Mass will take place at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Caney, KS on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 11am with internment immediately following at Sunnyside Cemetery in Caney.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Joan’s name to the Scared Heart Altar Society, Caney, Kansas or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF). Memorials may be left with Potts Chapel. To leave the family a special message of condolence, please visit www.caney.pottsfuneralhome.com.
Friday, July 26, 2024
6:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Saturday, July 27, 2024
11:00am - 12:30 pm (Central time)
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
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