Dr. Joan A. Traver Appel, MD

     At 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2020, Dr. Joan A. Traver Appel, MD went home to be with her Lord and Savior.

     Joan Amalia was born June 4, 1940 to Edward and Isabelle (Cryowski) Traver in Detroit, MI. She spent her early years in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. After graduating from Oak Park High School, she attended Loyola University in Chicago, IL for one year before entering the Convent of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ for nine years. Joan received her MD from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and completed her internship and residency at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Dr. Joan came to Door County in 1978 and started a medical office, working over 35 years caring for the health of her patients both, in her office and at Door County Memorial Hospital in Sturgeon Bay on-call both, day and night. Mexico and Albania were among the foreign countries she traveled to on mission trips to care for the sick.

     On June 19, 1982, Joan married Robert Appel. They worked together until closing the medical practice in Sister Bay in 2014. She continued to see patients at Coventry Care until six months ago.

     Joan loved the Lord and was an active member at each church she attended. Her love of reading and writing poetry filled much of her free time. For many years, Joan did stain glass work which can be found throughout the county and world. Her patients’ welfare was foremost on her mind, always striving to get them back to health or get them help. Joan will be missed by a great many people that she cared for.

     She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Robert Appel; brothers, Daniel (Joanne) Traver, Arthur Traver, and David (Mary) Traver; brothers in-law, Edward (Holly) Appel and Thomas Schmidt; sisters in-law, Tina Appel, Ida Kay Orsted, and Cheryl Appel; many dear nieces and nephews; and other relatives.

     Joan was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Edward and Myrtle (Albertson) Appel; sister, Cecelia (Howard) Cabin; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Traver, Betty (Robert) Phillips, Sandra Schmidt, and Cindi (William) Benson; brothers in-law; William Appel and Gregory Orsted; and other relatives.

     A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at Stella Maris Parish-Sister Bay site with inurnment in St. Mary’s of the Lake Cemetery in Baileys Harbor.

     Visitation for family and friends will be held at the church on Saturday, June 19, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.

     “Our family would like to thank Unity Hospice, and Martha, Kathy, and William of Hearthside CBRF for all their kind words and gentle care at this most difficult time.”

     Casperson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Sister Bay is assisting the family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Joan may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com.

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