Joann Slowey

Tuesday, January 3, 2023 10:16 pm

Joann Marie (Lillehamer) Slowey, age 90 of Decorah, formerly of Richland Center, Wis., died peacefully with her loving family by her side on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 at Winneshiek Medical Center under the compassionate care of Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice.

Joann was born on July 18, 1932 to parents Mary O’Brien (Bill) and Lars Lillehamer (Edith). She graduated high school from Endeavor, Wisconsin in 1951 and was valedictorian of her class. Joann married the love of her life Don on June 23, 1951. They were married for 70 years!

Jo worked in various positions in her life starting out working as a bank clerk in Milwaukee, Wis., but loved her best role of being a stay-at-home loving mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a long-time member of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish. Jo was a great cook and baker and really enjoyed saving a huge collection of the recipes. She was a life-long fan of the Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks and the Green Bay Packers…attending many of those games in person with Don and other family members over the years. She didn’t like missing a sports event of her grandkids or great grandkids if she could help it! She surely would not miss a chance to jump in the car with Don on their daily rides. They especially loved driving over to the Dells and Briggsville area and cruising past Lake Mason and Don’s family farm.

Jo is survived by her daughter Christine Flaskerud – (former son-in-law Rod Flaskerud) Decorah, Iowa; son-in-law Tom Nee, Jr (Jennifer) of Richland Center; her grandchildren: Kristin (Sean) Nitka of Richland Center, Kari (Chad) Steinlage of Ossian, IA, Jeanne (Darin) Dietz of Nashua, IA, Katie (Nick) Gullickson of Pella, IA and Phillip Flaskerud of OFF The GRID: thirteen great-grandchildren; two brothers: Bill O’Brien (Sandy) of Pewaukee, WI and Ed O’Brien (Nancy) of Twin Lakes, Michigan; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-laws: Jo (Lyle) Neesam of Portage, Mary (Bob) Rix of Endeavor, and Cliff Mountford of Briggsville.Jo was preceded in death by her daughter Jeanne Nee, husband Don, sister-in-law Rita Mountford, and her parents.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Richland Center, Wis. A lunch at the church will follow the Mass. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m.

Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Briggsville, Wis., at a later (warmer!) date. The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service of Richland Center and the Helms Funeral Homes and Cremation Service of Decorah, are assisting the family with their arrangements.