Florence M. Lewandowski

Florence M. Lewandowski, 95, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 12, 2023. She was born in Fancher on March 26, 1928 to Florian and Franciszka Sopa.  Following the untimely death of her mother, Bertha (Gosh) Sopa became her step-mother.  Proudly growing up on a dairy farm, she attended the one room Polly School in Buena Vista, St. Mary of Mount Carmel, Fancher and Amherst High School.  She moved to Milwaukee where she worked at a Walgreens store and Master Lock, before returning to Fancher to assist her brother on the family farm.

Florence married Stanely P. Lewandowski on September 7, 1954. They settled in Stevens Point to raise their family.  She supported the family by working as a telephone operator at Bell Telephone Company, which later became AT&T.  She was just crazy enough to travel to Appleton daily for work for 6 years, 8 months and not missing one day of work regardless of the weather before retiring.

Florence, a modest and humble person, found beauty in dandelion from blossom to seed, loved ladybugs, butterflies, bumble bees, birds, chipmunks, and found great joy in squirrels doing the high wire act of walking on the electrical and telephone wires in the back yard.  She enjoyed classical country music, being an avid fan of Hank Williams, Patsy Montana, with "I want to be a Cowboy Sweetheart" as her absolute favorite song. Brad Paisley was an addition to her list during his early years.  Polka music was a great joy as well.  You were not to call her Wednesday from 5:30 to 6 PM or Saturday from 9 to 10 PM as she was watching Mollie B.  She enjoyed spending time with friends donating to the casinos in the area.  She also loved animals, whether her granddogs Blacky, Charlie, Tasha, Edie, Jasper, Honestly, and Dixie or her grandcats Blacky, Miss Kitty, and Modestly, or the various neighborhood pets that she would meet.

She is survived by her children, Susan (Michael) Bongard, Stevens Point, and James Lewandowski, Rochester, MN, and granddaughter, Aleah (Adam) McDonald, Le Sueur, MN, step-grandson Daniel Ulferts, step-granddaughters Mallorie (Jay) Brunner, Chelsey Ulferts, Hannah Cantrell, and step-great-granddaughter Hailey Cantrell.  She is also survived by her sisters, Betty (David) Helbach, and Marge (Carl) Docka, 22 nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.  Also survived by honorary daughter Judy McLaughlin and her children, Austin, Orion, Sarah, & Mari.

Florence is preceded in death by her husband, Stanley, her son, Thomas (Linda Cantrell) Lewandowski, her brothers, Chester Sopa, June (Elaine) Sopa, Florian Jr (Ruth) Sopa, Severen "Bud" (Elaine) Sopa, Raymond Sopa, and Adolph (Caroline) Sopa, her sisters, Sylvia (Joseph) Klim, Alice (John) Kump, and Marie Sopa, her step-brothers, Leonard (Ann) Suski and Miron "Bill" (Pearl) Suski and her step-sister, Evelyn (Tony) Sharafinski, two nephews and three nieces.

Florence's family would like to thank her honorary daughter, Sally McDonald, for her love and support these past 6 years.   They would also like to thank Aspirus Hospice for your assistance during her final days.  A HUGE thank you to Judy McLaughlin and family for invaluable love, help and support.

A Mass of Christian Burial For Florence will be held at 10:30AM on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 800 4th Avenue, Stevens Point.  Visitation will be held in the St. Peter Faustina room from 9:00AM until the time of service. Rev John Potaczek will be officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Fancher.  Pisarski Funeral Homes are honored to be serving the family.  For online condolences please visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.