Josephine B. Hoyer's Obituary
Josephine Barbara Hoyer, age 82, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2024, while receiving
hospice care at home.
Josephine was born on March 15, 1941, in Amherst, Wisconsin, the daughter of Ambrose and Evelyn (Karch) Pionkowski. She was proud to grow up in a large farming family with 16 siblings in Nelsonville, Wisconsin. She attended Sacred Hearts Catholic School and graduated from Amherst High School in 1959. She married Earl John Hoyer on November 10, 1962, and had two children. Her son, Richard Hoyer, is married to Kelly (Sheahan), and they have two sons, Caleb and Ian. Her daughter, Jauna (Hoyer) Flanagan, is married to Brian (Flanagan), and they have two daughters, Grace and Ana.
After high school, Josephine left Amherst to enter the work force. She worked at Briggs and Stratton in Milwaukee and later at Tecumseh in New Holstein. She then studied and worked as a pharmacy technician in Wausau. Josephine continued her education to become a respiratory therapist, and she worked as a respiratory therapist in Wausau and Appleton until she retired.
Josephine was a blessing. She cherished the simple things in life with the greatest gratitude. She experienced joy from dinners with her family, walks with her grandchildren, golfing with her sisters, phone calls with friends, a well-delivered homily, attending her grandchildren’s sporting events, her furry-friend Luca, scenic drives to Upper Michigan, listening to music, hitting the dance floor, and making cookies. She was always willing to lend a hand and gave without expecting anything in return. She enjoyed life and was up for any adventure, whether it be a long hike, skydiving, learning to windsurf at the age of 50, or taking downhill ski lessons in Colorado when turning 60 years old. Josephine loved life and those in it. She will be greatly missed, and she lived her life on earth to be welcomed into Heaven.
She is survived by 12 brothers and sisters: Phillip (Linda) of Amherst Junction, MaryJane
Jastromski of Amherst, Ursula Recore of Whitelaw, Rosalie (Phillip) Glass of Franklin, Charlet
Barden of Amherst, Carl of Amherst, Julie (Roy) Bohm of Amherst Junction, Karen Turner of
Almond, Ann (Wayne) Brillowski of Plover, Lloyd (Louise Firkus) of Stevens Point, Roberta
Lasinski of Waupaca, and Sara Star of Two Rivers.
Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Paul and Michael, sisters
Lucille and Celia, brother-in-laws Leroy Franszcak, Fred Jastromski, Lloyd Recore, Phillip
Barden and Tim Turner, and sister-in-law, Mary (Hansen) Pionkowski.
A mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. James Catholic Church, Amherst at 11 A.M. on
Monday February 12, 2024 with Father Jerzy Rebacz presiding. Burial will be at the St. James Cemetery. Family and friends are welcome for visitation beginning at 10 A.M. until the time of Mass at 11 A.M. A luncheon will follow the burial at St. James Catholic Church. For those who are unable to attend the mass, please know your connection with our mother is appreciated - say a prayer, attend a mass, go for a walk, or spend time with someone you love. These actions too are a celebration of her life. The Jungers-Holly Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Josephine’s favorite charities:
Holy Hill, 1525 Carmel Road, Hubertus, WI, 53033
Sacred Heart Catholic Schools, 7379 Church Street, Custer, WI, 54423
The family wishes to thank the staff at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton, and the caring hospice
staff at Compassus especially Ashley, Carissa, Crystal, and Tonya.
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