Post Messenger Recorder -

Joan E. Hefty, age 90, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Catholic Eldercare in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was born on May 20, 1932, in Madison, Wisconsin, the daughter of Elmer and Valeria (Priebe) Rogge.

Joan graduated from Madison West High School and then Madison Business College. On September 5, 1959, she was united in marriage to Lawrence Hefty at Hope Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Joan and Lawrence farmed outside New Glarus for nearly 60 years. Joan loved animals and found her real passion in raising and milking goats - selling the milk to Bresse Bleu Cheese plant for 20 years. Her goats appeared in the Heidi and Wilhelm Tell festivals in New Glarus for many years. As her children left for college and careers, she adopted their pets - pony, dogs and cats - as hers and cared for them along with all of her goats. In her younger years, and while raising her children, she grew all types of vegetables in her expansive garden each year, freezing and canning many pounds and quarts for the winter/spring ahead. She especially enjoyed her green beans and tomatoes.

Joan is survived by her children, Virginia Hefty, Norine (Todd Byrne) Hefty, Sharon (Dan) Hart, James Hefty, and Alan Hefty; grandchildren, Morgan and Korey Hart; and niece, Terri Frey.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lawrence; sister, Carol Foreyt; and an infant brother.

Private funeral services will be held at the Zentner-Beal Funeral Home in New Glarus. Burial will be in the Swiss Church Cemetery, New Glarus, WI.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com.