Joann E. Bates, 76, of Burlington, passed away Friday, May 22, 2026, at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center.
Born in Connecticut on October 27, 1949, she was the daughter of Robert and Marjorie (nee Wilkie) Bates. Most of her life was spent in Chicago and Southeast Wisconsin. She has been a Burlington resident since 2021.
Joann’s art was her essence. Joann was a painter and prolific writer. Every Thursday, she read her original poetry at The Coffee House in Burlington. During her life, Joanne dedicated much of her time to helping others through volunteering and facilitating CoDA meetings. She also worked at Wrigley Field as a vendor manager before retiring. Joann loved nature and spending time with her family and her cat, 3B.
Joann is survived by her daughter, Beth (Todd) Hewitt; grandchildren, Waylan and Fritz Hewitt; and sister Denise Vance. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Debbie Bates, and her brother Bob Bates Jr.
The family would like to thank the Aurora Lakeland Hospital doctors, nurses, and staff for their care and compassion during this time.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
