Joe A. Wasilowski

Joe A. Wasilowski, 69, a longtime  Stewartville, MN resident died on Tuesday (January  15,  2019) of  natural causes at Edenbrook Care Center in  Rochester where he had been a resident since March of last year.

Joe Albert Wasilowski was born on January 19, 1949 in Sauk Rapids,MN  to Albert and Diane (Wesenberg) Wasilowski. He moved with his family to Stewartville as a 4 yr. old, where he grew up and attended school, graduating from Stewartville H.S. in 1967. He entered the U.S. Army serving 2 years including duty as a payroll clerk in Germany. He returned to Stewartville where he was employed as a heavy equipment operator in the area including  employment with Rochester Sand and Gravel for a number of years. He was a past member of Operating Engineers Local 49 in Rochester. Joe  was married on July  3, 1980 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Stewartville to Linda Ridgeway.  Following their marriage the couple lived in Stewartville where they raised their family. They were later divorced. Joe was a past member of St. Johns  Lutheran Church in Stewartville. He was a longtime member of the Stewartville American Legion Post 164 and had also served as Post manager for 3 years, a number of years ago. He was an active member of the Stewartville Sportsmen's Club for many years and always enjoyed cooking for their wild game feeds. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, grilling and cooking  and was a long suffering Minnesota Vikings and Twins fan. He enjoyed his many friends and especially enjoyed time spent with his sons and families.

Joe is survived by  3 sons – Shawn Vriezen of Minneapolis,MN; Sonny (Lisa) Wasilowski  and Jeremy(Alicia) Wasilowski both of Faribault, MN ;  4 grandchildren – Ridgeway and Maguire Wasilowski, Paige and Wyatt Wasilowski;  a  sister – Diane Phetteplace of Rochester,MN; 2 nieces — Becky Phetteplace and Robyn Parker, his former spouse – Linda ( Les) Fairbanks of  Mahnomen, MN, and good friends and caregivers – Steve and Rhonda Berg of High Forest,MN .  He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Edward Wasilowski and a nephew Kevin Thompson.                   

A celebration of Joe’s life will take place from 5:00  to 7:00 P.M. on Friday (January 18,  2019) at the Stewartville American Legion Post 164.  Military honors will take place at 7:00 P.M.  A private family burial and committal service  will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of  Joe  are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com.

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