Obit: Sowieja, Josephine Marie #2 (1932 - 2007)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Sowieja, Vesel, Schuette

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Saturday, December 7, 2007

Sowieja, Josephine "Jo" Marie (6 Dec. 1932 - 5 Dec. 2007)

Josephine M. Sowieja

STEVENS POINT -- Josephine M. (nee Vesel) Sowieja, 74, of Stevens Point, formerly of Greenwood, died at 9 p.m. Dec. 5, 2007, at the Marilyn Anderson Hospice Care Center of Madison.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be posted with a complete obituary at a later date.

* * *

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Sunday, December 8, 2007

Josephine Sowieja

STEVENS POINT -- Josephine (Jo) Marie Sowieja (nee Vesel) age 74, of Stevens Point, passed away on Dec. 5, 2007, at Marilyn Anderson Hospice Care Center, Madison, following a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Jo was born Dec. 6, 1932, in Greenwood, to John and Margaret (Schuette) Vesel. She attended St. Mary's Parochial School and graduated from Greenwood Community High School in the class of 1950.

Jo was united in marriage to Eugene (Gene) Sowieja on March 31, 1951, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenwood and resided in Greenwood where they raised their six sons. Jo worked as produce manager at the Greenwood IGA store for a number of years and upon her husband Gene's retirement as Director of Public Works for Greenwood, moved to Escondido, Calif. While in Escondido they jointly managed an apartment complex for nine years and then returned to Wisconsin to be closer to their children and grandchildren, settling in Stevens Point.

Jo enjoyed working as hostess for Anthony's Supper Club in Stevens Point and also had several residential cleaning jobs to help occupy her free time. She had pastimes of crocheting afghans for family and friends, and was an ace with crossword puzzles and word games. She was also very active in organizing and assisting with the Gene Sowieja Memorial Golf Outing to raise money for an activity fund in the namesake of her husband and brother-in-law, Jerry Sowieja, at Greenwood High School. Jo had a passion for baking and cooking awesome meals for her family and friends.

While living in Stevens Point, she was a member of St. Peters Catholic Church.

Survivors include six sons, Gene (Lonni) of Madison, Tom of Silt, Colo., Dave (Nancy) of Stevens Point, Rob (Lisa) of Madison, Ron (Judy) of Greenwood, and John (Nan) of Rifle, Colo.; sister Margaret of Bergland, Mich.; brothers, Robert (Viv) of Greenwood, Ray (Delores) of Rock Falls, Ill.; along with seven granddaughters, Tamra, Kari, Kelsey, Crystal, Claurice, Lindsey and Mackenzie; two grandsons, Aaron and Zack; and two great-granddaughters, Arianna and Taylor.

She was preceded in death by husband, Gene in April 1999; brothers, John (WWII P.O.W.), Bernard and Charles.

Cremation has taken place.

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenwood along with a memorial service at 11 a.m. Following services will be interment at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

Jo's sense of humor, love and attribute of helping others will be greatly missed.