John "Jack" S. Holewa

John Stanley Holewa, age 92, of Avon MN, formerly of Foley, MN, passed away in his
home on February 21, 2024 of natural causes. He spent his last days as he spent many
of his days - surrounded by family and friends, with a smile on his face and a joke at the
ready.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at St.
Elizabeth's Catholic Church, Brennyville, MN. The Rev. Matthew Langager will officiate.
Burial will be in the Parish Cemetery.
Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 26, 2024, at the Foley
Funeral Home in Foley. Arrangements were made by the Foley Funeral Home, Foley,
MN. A 15-decade rosary will begin at 7:30 p.m. or whenever we can successfully gather
all of his children into the same room at the same time.
John was born September 9, 1931, the 9 th child born the 9 th day of the 9 th month as he
liked to tell us; to John F. and Helen C. (Przybytek) Holewa in Granite Ledge Township,
Benton County. If you knew him as a child, he was “Junior.” If you knew him as a young
man, he was “Jackie.” If you knew him as an adult, he was “Jack,” “Uncle Jack,” “Dad,” or
“Grandpa.” His love for fishing, baseball, and playing tag (Dad, you are still “Champion of
the World, Toot! Toot!) never left him.
He was raised with his 11 siblings in Benton County. As a young man he tried many
different jobs including farm labor, lumberjack, Northwest Marble, and the Ford Motor
Company before he went on to buy his own farm. He joined the Navy in 1950 and was
later medically discharged. It was while in the Navy that he learned he had a universal
blood type. Knowing that he had this life-saving gift, he made it a point to donate as
often as he could.
He married the love of his life, Marianne Sauer, on May 25, 1957, at St. Timothy’s Catholic
Church in Spring Lake Park, MN. They settled in Granite Ledge Township, the place of
his birth, for their entire marriage and spent their days dairy farming and raising their 15
children. To him, she was always “Sweetheart” and he liked to surprise her with
bouquets of wildflowers whenever he was working in the fields or out in the pastures. In
their later years, they spent many hours traveling around the United States and working
together sorting seeds, planning, and working in their garden.
Throughout his life, he had a special devotion to the rosary and was known as a prayer
warrior. If you expressed a worry or a hope to him, his response was always “I will pray
for you,” and his words immediately filled you with a sense of comfort. He frequently
liked to remind people to, “Enjoy this day. God made it especially for you.” He was a
proud member of his parish, St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Brennyville. He was active
in the Knights of Columbus and the parish counsel where he was always willing to
volunteer and be of service to his church and to God. In lieu of flowers, his children
invite you to make a donation to St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church or the Knights of
Columbus in his honor.
John is survived by his children Roseanne (Dave) Zabloski, Foley, MN; Nancy
Holewa, Texas; Helen (John) Culbreath, Clarksville, TN; John (Peggy) Holewa, Hillman,
MN; Jane (Tom) Gorecki, Foley, MN; Sally Holewa (Curt Kantor), Bismark, ND; Catherine
(John) Polejewski, Avon, MN; Rena Holewa Hales, Elk River, MN; Randa (Jerry) Paschke,
Medford, MN; Mary (Andy) Bobst, Butte, MT; Sharon Lent, Albany, WI; Michelle Holewa,

Albany, WI; Matthew (Gina) Holewa, Ruther Glen VA; Luke (Julie) Holewa, Sheridan WY;
son-in-law, Gary Goetzke, Foley, MN; 41 grandchildren, 48 great grandchildren and 2
great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife Marianne, daughter and granddaughter,
Jacqueline and Loralee Goetzke, his parents John and Helen and his 11 siblings Clara,
Joe, George, Stan, Mary, Rose, Ann, Frank, Aloise, Henry and Bernice.

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