Joan M. (Edwards) Gaworski

Joan Marie (Joni) Gaworski beloved wife, mom, “grandest” mother, God Mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend went to be with her husband Kenny in heaven on December 10th, 2021. She passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully from a kidney disorder that she had been living with for a number of years. She passed at Gundersen- Lutheran Health System surrounded by her devoted children, their spouses, and the good folks from Mary Mother of the Church Parish. In her final hours she received many calls from out of state family urging her to fight on and telling her how much she was loved. Although unable to respond verbally, we know that she heard everyone. We all are very touched by the outpouring of adoration and good will for our mom. Her children played her favorite music for her and held her hands as she passed.

Joni was born on January 9 ^th , 1946, in Aurora IL to William David Edwards and Dorothy Edwards (Testin). She attended the Madonna Catholic School System. Soon after graduating high school, she met and married Clarence Gaworski. They had two beautiful daughters, Krista Ann, and Michelle Marie. Having been married very young, their marriage was eventually annulled. During this time Joni also lost her mother Dorothy to cancer, which was a difficult loss for the Edwards family. Joni played an integral role in raising her four younger brothers David, Gary, Steven, and Michael.

She would go on to marry “the love of her life,” Kenneth George Gaworski, whom she met through taking baked goods to Kenneth’s mother, Irene Gaworski (Molitor). Mom always said, “ Kenny had a beard down to his waist, he chewed tobacco, and he had just climbed out of the Montana mountains from leading a hunting expedition. He might have been a ‘confirmed bachelor’ who carried his slippers in his back pocket, but he made me laugh!” They were married two years later, August 7, l976 in Oswego, IL. They had one son together, Matthew Kenneth whom they adored. They renewed their vows in a Catholic ceremony at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Bristol, IL, on Dec. 23, l978. They laughed together for the next 39 years. Kenny was her best friend. They moved to Hokah, MN in 1980 and bought “The Riverside Farm,” and raised many crops and animals together. Joni was an amazing cook, baker, and caretaker to her family. She always thought the Coulee Region was beautiful and loved the bluffs, country life, and all of her farm pets. Her hobby was raising and training German Shepherds, and she was always excited for a new litter of puppies to join the Gaworski farm family.

After eventually leaving the farm behind them, Joni and Kenny moved to            La Crescent, MN. When Kenny became ill with Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer’s, Joni was told he would need nursing home care. She wouldn’t hear of it. She took Kenny home and was by his side every day caring for him for seven years before he passed. Joni was not one to back down from anything or anyone and she proved what love and devotion truly looked like to anyone who knew her.

Joni had many jobs over the years but the most memorable were cooking at the Hokah Café and The La Crescent Group Home, catching shoplifters as Security Manager at K-Mart department store and tending to animals in her role of Animal Control Officer for Houston County, a role in which she proudly served for 25 years. Through everything our mom was an animal lover and taught her children the meaning of unconditional love.

Being the devoted person she was, Joni took an active role in all of her kids’ lives. Going to sporting events, plays, concert choir performances, band concerts, cheerleading events, music competitions, and of course, her “most favorite of all,” soccer games. Joni was an instrumental voice in developing the La Crescent High School soccer program and was her son’s biggest sideline fan. If you attended a La Crescent soccer game in the mid 1990’s you can be certain you saw her passing out red licorice whips to the Lancer team at halftime and you definitely heard, “Ma Gaworski,” yelling, “ GET THAT BALL MATTHEW!! ” She always made sure her children got home safely and a day didn’t go by that she did not individually talk to all three of her kids to check in and catch- up. She loved jokes, she loved cards and games, good music, and books, and she had a standing date each weekday at 4:30PM to play “Jeopardy” over the phone with her son Matthew and his friends, all who treasured Joni.

Joni was preceded in death by both Kenneth and Clarence Gaworski, her parents, dear cousins, aunts, uncles, “in- laws,” and her brother David Edwards with whom she had a very special bond. She is survived in death by her children Krista (Christopher) Huiras, Michelle (Rich) Phillips, Matthew (Bethany) Gaworski, her brothers Gary, Steve and Mike, and a number of godchildren, nieces, nephews, and her special grandchildren Kyle Colemen, Chad Coleman, Quin Colemen (Thomas Colemen), and the Huiras children: Callie, Kyle, and Hans (Christopher) Huiras.

Our mom was also preceded in death by a countless number of much loved pets over the years and is survived by her “grand dogs” and “grand cats,” and her most cherished protector puppies Django, Maggie May, and “Pistol” Pete who miss her deeply. Not to mention the number of neighborhood birds and squirrels who will miss her coming to the door with treats, a smile, and an inviting song that let them know she was a friend. She was an artist, a gifted writer and painter, a musician, and if you ever met her, you can be certain she not only worried about you but prayed for you.

A memorial gathering for friends and family will be held from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 200 West Ave. So., La Crosse.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers to please make a donation to your favorite animal shelter.

“Mom… we are all home safely, we will take care of each other, you can rest now… XOXOXO.”