Joan Lou (Long) Kolosso, age 95, passed away on Saturday May 29,2021 in her home with family at her side. Joan was born in Appleton WI on November 11, 1925 daughter of the late Harry H. long and Alice (Landers) Long. Joan resided in Appleton all her life. She graduated from Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, WI. She was united in marriage to Robert Kolosso Jr on June 28,1949.

Along with her late husband Robert (Bob) Kolosso Jr, Founded Kolosso Auto Sales Inc, (Kolosso Toyota, Kolosso Jeep and Kolosso Auto Body) of Appleton. She was a teacher at Highlands Elementary School in Appleton for 18 years.

Joan was active in many things over her 95 years. She was a member of St Mary's Catholic Church and was a lifetime member at Appleton Yacht Club. She volunteered at St Elizabeth Hospital and after Bob's death she took his place on the board of the Wisconsin Auto Dealers Foundation. Along with her late husband, Bob, they started several dance clubs and had a birthday group with their friends. She belonged to many women's clubs and golf leagues. She also enjoyed "lunch Bunch" with her children and grandchildren. She loved getting together with her Lady Friends for dinners, lunches, and plays. She loved to crochet towels giving them as gifts to her friends and family. She loved to sew and knit – she sewed clothes for her grandchildren and would knit sweaters, hats, booties and blankets for her new grandchildren and great grandchildren when they were born. She loved going to Toyota on Saturdays to have lunch. She spent many summers in the early days taking all her children to her mom's cottage on Lake Winnebago and then camping trips throughout the United States. She enjoyed boating and spending time at the family cottage on Lake Moshawquit. Joan loved to travel and continued to travel after Bob's death. She would visit her grandchildren that lived out of state and took several trips with her daughters. She would tell all her children and grandchildren all about her many travels all around the world and show her many pictures of all the fun and exciting places she visited throughout her many years of travel. She spent the winter months in Florida first in Marco Island with Bob, then after his death moved to Naples until 2014.

During the isolation of Covid she and her grandson Robert would take long walks and drives around the area to get out and enjoy the scenery.

Joan was preceded in death by Bob, her husband of 51 ½ years, her daughter Linda Nielsen, her parents, as well as her brothers, John, Donald and Jerry Long and her sisters, Marquette Page and Marilyn Christensen and several in-laws.

Survivors include her 5 children, John (Mary) Kolosso Menasha, William (Karen) Kolosso Appleton, Barbara (Jim) Kolosso Bear Creek, Nancy (Rick)Oppor Schaumburg, IL, Peter Kolosso and his friend Teresa Appleton and Son-in-law Jeff Nielsen Greenville. Her 16 grandchildren, Rebecca Heegeman, Joe Nielsen, Ryan, Trisha, Troy Kolosso, Jenni Monahan, Angie Kolosso, Michelle Bruni, Nicole Nae, Cora Kolosso, Robert, Michael, Stephanie Oppor, Bobby, Jacqueline, Emily Kolosso and Step Granddaughters Megan Krueger, Nicole Kuss and 33 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her 2 brothers Robin and Keith Long and her sister in laws June Long, Glady Long, Irene Cagle, and Joan Kolosso as well as many nieces and nephews.

Mom will be dearly missed by all her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren along with her lifelong friend Larry Konz. She had a kind heart and was very generous to her family. She touched so many lives along her 95 years.

Her family would like to give a special thank you to her grandson Robert Oppor who had been her main caregiver making her wish to remain in her home a reality. They would also like to thank the staff at Heartland Hospice.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 7, 2021 at SAINT MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 312 S State Street, Appleton with Fr. Bill Swichtenberg officiating. Friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. A live stream for the service may be accessed by clicking or entering the following link:https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/1416221511.

In lieu of flowers, a Memorial fund is being established to benefit the Vets and Friends of Wisconsin, serving our local Veterans.