Mary Polaschek, 81
Tue, 12/19/2017 - 9:50am
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Nov. 11, 1936 —
Dec. 11, 2017
Decorah - Mary “Joneil” Polaschek, age 81, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.
Funeral services were held Dec. 15 at First Congregational Church in Cresco with Pastor Tim Sir officiating.
Mary Joneil (O’Connor) Polaschek was born on Nov. 11, 1936 to Joseph and Colletta (Hyberger) O’Connor in Lime Springs, Iowa. Joseph passed away before Joneil’s birth, and she was loved and raised by her second father, Howard Foote. She graduated from Assumption High School in Cresco, Iowa.
After graduating, she worked as a nurse’s aid at St. Marys in Rochester, Minn. She married Neil Polaschek on May 14, 1957 at Assumption Catholic Church in Cresco. Together they had four children, Dean, Mary Tom, Maureen and Jimmy. Joneil was a homemaker, as well as working at the Howard County Courthouse for many years. She was very proud of her 33 years of sobriety. She was very helpful and supportive of others who struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction. She was very active with the AA group, and her doors were always open to people in need.
She liked being called “Jo,” camping and everything Irish. She had a special love for all of her grandchildren, nieces and nephews and their families and a special bond with her sister “Mickie” and her daughter “at heart” Kriss Nett.
Joneil is survived by her husband, Neil; three children, Dean (Robbin) Polaschek of Raeford, N.C., Mary Tom Smith of Midwest City, Okla. and Maureen Hrdlicka of Decorah; grandchildren, Rebecca, Josh, Nick, Mollie (Nathan), Jenna, Jacob, Donnie and Derek; great-granddaughter, Emma; sister, Mickie Sir of Cresco; daughter “at heart,” Kriss Nett of Waukon, Iowa; and sister-in-law, Jeanne Polaschek of Salinas, Calif.; along with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Colletta (Hyberger) O’Connor; adoptive father, Howard Foote; son, Jimmy in 2014; brothers and sisters-in-law, Paul Sir, Joyce Harris, Jeannine (Wayne) Hoag, Tommy Polaschek and Joe Polaschek; and father and mother-in-law, Joe and Clara Polaschek.
