Joanne M. Laskowski

Joanne Marie Laskowski passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 18, 2022 .  Survived by her beloved husband of 60 years, Richard E. Laskowski and her older brother Richard (Carol) King; Loving mother of Deborah (John) Meyer, Kathryn Laskowski (Tony Breuscher), Richard G. (Chantal) Laskowski, Gail Laskowski (Ken Norkus), and Linda (Allen) Plass; Loving grandmother of 13 grandchildren: Adison (Amanda), Krystal, Ashlen (Phil), Renee, Brooke, Tyler (Vanelli), Joshua (Andrea), Colin, Madisen, Chad, Lauren, Eric and Morgan.  Loving great-grandmother to Raelen, Austin and Matthew.

Born March 9, 1942 at McNeil Hospital in Berwyn, IL to Richard J. (deceased 12/25/50) and Mildred Homolka (deceased 3/11/05); raised by her mom and stepdad, John J. King, from 1952 to 1961.  Joanne attended Blessed Agnes grade school and Alvernia high school in Chicago.  During high school, she worked part-time during the summers at Goldblatt’s department store and was made the pet department summer manager at the age of 16.  She was Art Editor of her high school’s monthly newsletter during her senior year.  After high school, she worked full time as a teletypist at Old Ben Coal Company in downtown Chicago until September, 1961.

Joanne and Richard married on September 9, 1961 and moved to Downers Grove, IL for a short period of time.  On July 1, 1962, they bought a small Ace Hardware store in Round Lake, IL and worked for many months from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. waiting on customers, and then from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. pricing and stocking out new merchandise trying to bring their little 4,000 sq.ft. store up to par.  (Joanne even cooked and ironed for her and Rich at the back of the store!)

After their first born came along in January, 1963, Joanne was mostly a full time Mom having 5 children in a little less than 7 years.  As the children grew older, Joanne did volunteer work at St. Joseph Parish rectory in Round Lake, working in the office.  Soon after, she took over as the Art Editor and doing the lay-out of the monthly Parish Newsletter, along with other various Parish activities.  From there, Joanne progressed to volunteering for Lake County Right to Life doing office work and eventually took over as Art Editor and doing the lay-out for the LCRL monthly Newsletter, which lasted until 1992, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, ending her volunteer work.  After surgery and chemo, she concentrated on her husband and home life, was an avid reader and so-so golfer.

Joanne had a great love for Jesus, her husband, her family, her friends, and LIFE.  Her main objective was to know, love, and serve God in this world and be happy with Him in the next.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents and younger brother, Ken King.

Visitation Thursday, August 25, 4:30-7 p.m., at Hamsher Lakeside Funerals & Cremations, 12 N. Pistakee Lake Rd., Fox Lake (847-587-2100).  Funeral Mass and burial 11:30 a.m., Friday, August 26, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and Cemetery, 2302 W. Church St., Johnsburg (815-385-1477).  All are invited to go directly to the Church for the Mass.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Joanne’s name to American’s United for Life, 1150 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036, or www.AUL.org.  

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