Josephine Mary Laska, age 85, of Stevens Point passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at her home under the care of Heartland Hospice with her loving family by her side.

Josephine was born on August 28, 1935 in the Town of Moon, WI., a daughter of the late John and Mary (Kulak) Hornik. She attended school in Moon, WI. and graduated from Mosinee High School.

On September 17, 1955 she was married to Myron James Laska at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Knowlton.

Josephine was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, Moose Lodge and Catholic Women's Club. Before retirement, she was employed at Okray and American Potato Companies. Throughout her life she was involved in volunteering at the Lincoln Center, the Moose Lodge and made it her personal mission to help many elderly individuals during their time of need.  She enjoyed fishing, hunting and going dancing with her husband Mike. Spending time with her children and especially her grandchildren, was her greatest joy.  Josephine will be missed by so many and well-remembered for her incredibly kind, thoughtful and forgiving heart!

Josephine is survived by; her children, Cynthia (Roger) Henderson of Beaverton, OR., Debra (Michael) Wasilczuk of Weston, Phillip (Ann) Laska of Omro, Kathleen (Craig Newby) Laska of Stevens Point and Lori Kuklinski of Ventura, CA.; six grandchildren, Madisyn Kuklinski, Amber (Jim) Wilson, Jacob (Alisa) Laska, Steven (Kirsten) Wasilczuk, Benjamin (Hannah) Laska, and Lucas Laska; great grandsons, Jack and Jude Dawson(Kuklinski); and numerous other relatives and friends.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Myron, her son-in-law Eugene Kuklinski, 7 brothers and sisters; brothers, John, Joe and Walter Hornik; sisters, Angeline Cisewski, Helen, Anna, and Emily Hornik.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, from 9:00 AM until 10:15 AM at the Pisarski Funeral Home, 703 Second Street, Stevens Point.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Peter Catholic Church, 800 4 ^th Ave., Stevens Point at 10:30AM with Rev. Todd Mlsna presiding.  Burial will be in the St. Francis Xavier Parish Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, making a donation to St Jude's Children's Hospital would make Josephine very happy.

Masks and social distancing are required at the Funeral Home and the church for the funeral mass. If you are not comfortable attending, or are in ill health, online condolences may be sent by visiting www.pisarskifuneralhome.com The Pisarski Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family.

Josephine's family would like to thank  our neighbors, friends and all of the caregivers that befriended, comforted and Loved our mother up to the end. Your kindness will forever be in our hearts and felt throughout eternity by our mother.

Here is the link for the St. Peter Facebook page to view the Mass https://fb.watch/47BOZ_UCtt/

A recording of the Mass and Burial, follows the Obituary and the letter.

The following letter is from Josephine's daughter, Kathy as she was unable to be at her mother's service.

I am Kathy Laska, Josephine's 4th born child.  I compiled this from my memories and stories folks shared about Mom.

At 85 there's a lot to say about my mom through the eyes of others.  When Mom was 54, she found out her first grand-kids (Twin girls) where gonna be born…  To my surprise she was truly in shock and said, "No way, I'm too young to be a Grand-ma!"  Then they arrived and it was undeniable LOVE and she was Proud to say "these are my Grand Children!"   Amber said, when we were young Grammy took us out on the Horsey(Actually a four wheeler).  I remember we always had so much more fun with her because she let us sit in front of her and drive.

Mom's close high school friend Rosemary, shared; "We used to LOVE going to polka dances, and that's where she met Mike.  Josie knew right from the start that she would marry him". Undeniable Love.

Tho you could never tell from observations, Mom never felt confident about her education; Oh she read a lot and blew me away with high-level words, so that I had to go look it up in the dictionary;  I believe this next story it why she was such a pusher to get good grades.

Mom Grew up alone on a farm to late-life parents whose nearest siblings were 16 years plus her senior; so, they never really knew her.  She was born to Polish immigrants who spoke only Polish at home;  This set her back 2 years in school from knowing English. Rosemary conveyed her teacher was exceptionally mean and picked on Josie a lot.  Then one day I was so proud of Josie's spunk for she finally stood up to him in class and let him have it!  I'm guessing she did it in English,  if you know what I mean!  Rosemary didn't think she could have done that herself but she now knows it served to strengthen our mom through all the hard times to come.

My Aunt Marie revealed what mom's mother-in-law(Grandma) felt about Mom.  You all know how that story "could" go Right?  Marie fondly remembers her saying that "Josie is such a kind good-hearted person.

I often find myself inflicted with Mom's training on the meaning of Polish family meals!  Mom taught me how to cook all her favorite meals, Including the Polish ones. I found many of her habits and foods endearing to the elderly Polish but sometimes annoying to her younger care providers who were on diets. Why? Mom would often refuse to eat a meal I prepared for them unless they ate with her.   Humm… Fried potatoes & Buttermilk,  Blood Sausage,  Beef Tongue?    Was it torture or did she want them to always feel welcomed like family.  Since I cooked them, I prefer to think the latter.

Making people feel welcomed like family meant the world to her.  There was always enough food on the table for everyone, even if you just happened to show up at the right time.  And Hunting Season!  Oh, Hunting seasons! How did she do it?  After-all, she hunted most of the week too!  For Many years our Cousins would show up in their School Bus Rehabbed into a camper, filled with 8 children and their parents.  Yes, to hunt all week and eat Thanks Giving meal.   By God's grace, Mom typically put out a spread for about  20 people that included duck, beef, ham, polish sausage & venison. And you guessed it… every other compliment on God's Green earth!  Mom felt like a lone child growing up and always wanted a large family but said God stopped her at 5.  I'm guessing after hunting season she may have understood why!

From my perspective, I agree she had a kind heart in so many ways yet this could be coupled with surprising momma Badger strength, when backed to a wall over injustices upon family or friends. She fought for our father; to "not see action in the war" so he could support her during her pregnancy along with the other 4 children they had.  Mom & dad fought 12 years defending and finally winning in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, her right to save her childhood home from destruction by their first and only renters.  My close friend who was a Law student at Madison said, "Wow, that was your family? They use this as a notable case study in law books to train attorneys on how to drag a baseless claim through ALL appellate courts to the Wisconsin Supreme Court!" Rosemary was right! Mom had something special that served her, but it went straight to her core.

Central to Mom's life is her religious belief, faith and Love for God and all his creations.  Mom loved listening to Mother Teresa and anything to do with the Pope.   She drew strength from her Lord that literally carried her through every aspect of her life.  Mom shared with me a vision from her youth where she had forgot her prayers one night and Mary came to the foot of her bed in a warm beam of light and said, " Child you are a very special girl.  Remember Never to forget to say your prayers before bed.  You will be heard.  You are loved and your prayers will be answered."  Mom believed in the power of Mary's message throughout her whole life.  She said Rosary upon Rosary over the years for everybody!  Mom's prayers and beliefs gave her courage to step out of her comfort zone and travel to Madjigorie in search of a miracle to heal her husband's pain. Those beliefs sustained her during that 12-year legal battle and much, much more.

To know just how special  Mom really was you would have had to know all she endured and was blessed with throughout her life and see her transformation has always been with little complaint and much forgiveness; I believe Mom's last year was exceptional for her and a homecoming of self.  I saw her find her happy and her happy came through feeling and caring for others once again. Tho many did not always know, Mom demonstrated  immense concern for her neighbors and friends wondering how well they were doing. She tried to reach out to connect.  Mom went out of her way to comfort an old friend who was so very sharp minded, but after rehab for broken hips, she had a serious debilitating stroke. Mom could relate to how things can change in one moment.  No words were needed. She visited her often as she could.  It was beautiful to see her comfort with a warm touch of her hand and immense look of compassion radiating from her eyes. Just like I witnessed  so many times in her younger life.

In her last year, after some startling news, I believe Mom decided to live her best life in appreciate of the beauty of life that God gave her.  And I believe God let her!   Not many know that last February mom had a growth that because of CoVid could not be diagnosed and treated until 6 weeks later, after it grew into a very aggressive and massive Cancer.  This cancer in  Elderly woman is rare and slow movingly and outlived without intervention.   Yet, mom's was not. It wasn't normal from start to finish.  That's why I believe God had his hands in it.  Mom championed it all.

She chose to fight & Live.  She elected 'no surgery' and Endured daily radiation better than most patients in their 20's.  She endured 8 maintenance Chemo-type treatments until it was notable her quality of life was being affected.

Sure it was not without pain, and she'd react with a few S.O.B's outbursts, followed by Sorry I didn't mean to say that! And Within 5 months, Mom was Cancer-free and so many of her health problems had strangely improved or disappeared altogether!

On her 85th Birthday in August she was a glow on how happy she felt to have her own friends again.  She even reconnected  with old friends.   And Mom's workers and other friends all loved her and always celebrated her birthday as a group.  This year seemed different.  You could see it on her.  She believed the Love.  She felt it!  Something she lost or hid for so many years began to reemerge!

Mom seemed a positive medical mystery.  She was in Gods hands all along.  He eased much of her pain yet Mom had to work hard for it too.  Then November she got bacterial pneumonia and was hospitalized by the end of

December for 4 days and came home on Christmas. In a weakened state it would take more work to recover.   When CoVid came a knocking 3 or so weeks later her body could not deal.  In the end, Mom got her greatest wish. To feel safe and loved and to live and die in her own home. God let her come Home, if only for 31 hours for her family to say their last goodbyes over the phone. Then God told her she could stop trying so hard could finally come home to him!

Sadly, Mom and I both got CoVid but Mom did not survive.  I know she wants me to survive CoVid complications & and any potential infectious Variant.  So If I'm not here at Church and the meal, you will see me watch her burial from my car. I must not take risks for myself, Craig or my in-laws while I'm still recovering.  Thank you for being here to hear & share the memories of my mom whom I will forever feel a huge loss until we both meet again in Gods House.