Joanne Kathryn Konieczny, 92, passed peacefully on Monday, October 3, 2022, at the Marshfield Medical Center Hospital, surrounded by family.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at Rembs Funeral Home in Marshfield with Rev. Douglas Robertson officiating. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery will follow. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Monday, October 17, and from 10:00 am until service time on Tuesday, all at the funeral home. A rosary service will be held at 6:00 pm on Monday.
Joanne was born at home on May 5, 1930, in Junction (Stanley), Wisconsin, to Joseph and Bernice (Symbal) Szczech at the height of the depression. She grew up on the family farm and learned the value of hard work. Joanne was an accomplished cook and baker, gardener, and dressmaker.
Her first job was as a dressmaker, first in Thorp, WI, and later in Milwaukee, WI, where she met her future husband, George. On April 14, 1951, they were united in marriage at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp, WI. They made their home in the Milwaukee area and, after raising 5 children, she returned to the workforce, sewing high end window treatments in the Milwaukee area.
In 1971, they moved to Marshfield, Wisconsin. Joanne worked for Modern of Marshfield, sewing furniture upholstery, then later became a Cook at the University of Wisconsin in Marshfield. She ended her working years as she began them, sewing, at the Marshfield Medical Center, and later did so part-time well into retirement—a great seamstress was hard to find.
Joanne was an exemplary cook and baker, having learned from her mother and grandmothers. She was proud of her heritage and prepared tasty Polish food; her pierogi and gołąbki were extraordinary, and her canned dill pickles were noteworthy. She passed those skills on to her children and grandchildren. Her holiday meals and gatherings were legendary and will long be remembered. Joanne and her husband loved to garden and had large productive gardens. She also loved to can and preserve food, having learned to be thrifty, growing up during the depression. For many years, she was a volunteer for the Knights of Columbus, serving for many dinners and events. She also was a long-time member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church and active in their PCCW; she baked many a cake for funerals at OLP.
Joanne was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, George, on August 6, 2021. She is survived by her five children: Leon (Tom Abbott) of Sanford, Florida, Jean (Perry) Heideman of Milwaukee, George E. (Cindy) of Chili, and Mary (Dan) Williams and Donna (Tom) Hayes of Marshfield. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Joe (Jen) Konieczny, Jake (Heather) Konieczny, Justin (Adrienne) Heideman, Rachel (Tony) Karlin, Caitlin Heideman, Kali (Mike) Ditolla, Alexis (Eric) Harris, Kyle Williams, Kirsten (Jake) Bucki, Sean (Ashley) Hayes, and 19 great-grandchildren (Emmitt, Mac, Brooklynn, Eli, Anna, Rose, Joy, Soren, Charlie, Josie, Owen, Collin, Lily, Alec, Lydia, Isabel, Emma, Finley, and Quinn). Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, by brothers Joe and Frank (Mona), and by her sister, Steph (Frank) Kotecki. She is survived by her sisters Carol (John) Szymanski and Mary (the late Bill) Boh.
The family of Joanne Konieczny would like to thank the doctors and staff at the Marshfield Medical Center for their compassionate care during her last days, and especially Brooke, her RN, and Dr. O’Neill of Palliative Care who took great time with her and listened to her with compassion.
Memorials may be given in the name of George & Joanne Konieczny to Columbus Catholic Schools.
Author: News Desk
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