Sally Mae Lonowski

Sally M. Lonowski, 96, of Grand Island, formerly of Loup City, died Monday, June 25, 2012, at the Riverside Lodge Retirement Community. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Josaphat's Catholic Church in Loup City. The Revs. Marty Egging, Richard Piontkowski and Ray Kosmicki will officiate. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. A sodality rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. Thursday at the church, followed by one hour of visitation before the services. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Lonowski was born on May 6, 1916, near Ashton, the daughter of Anton and Anna (Moraczewski) Grudzinski. She was united in marriage to Clemence M. “Clem” Lonowski on Oct. 6, 1936, at Paplin. He preceded her in death on June 22, 1967. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Donna M. and George Wanitschke of Grand Island and Sharon J. and Jim Riley of Wood River; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Diz Grudzinski of Grand Island and Tony and Peggy Grudzinski of Troy, Michigan. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and spouses , Dori Wanitschke of Rancho Mirage, CA, Dee and G.H. Hanssen of Grand Island, Darla Wanitschke and Ann Heermann of Lincoln, Dena and Lee Norman of Grand Island, Jim Jr. and Karen Riley of Grand Island, Julie and Bob Padgett of Shelton, Linda and Jerry Kuhn of Omaha and Lisa and Nick Zwiebel of Omaha; and 10 great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Tena Lonowski of Creston, IA and Florence Wichman of Glendale, AZ. Sally grew up on the family farm near Ashton where she attended rural schools and Ashton High School through the 10th grade. Due to the Depression and the death of her father, she quit school to help her family. After her marriage to Clem the couple farmed near Davis Creek and north of Loup City in Sherman County. In 1946 they moved into Loup City where they owned and operated Clem's Bar for 22 years. After his death she continued to live in Loup City until 2000 when she moved to Riverside Lodge in Grand Island. In 2010 she was one of 17 residents to receive honorable high school diplomas. She was a member of St. Josaphat's Catholic Church and its Council of Catholic Women and Rosary Sodality. She enjoyed her family and friends, and was a great hostess that loved to entertain. She loved to polka dance, play cards and especially BINGO. While living in Loup City, each afternoon she met a group of ladies for coffee at the local Snack Shop. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Martha Ciemnoczolowski, Wanda Grudzinski, Louise Grudzinski and Lorraine Bellairs; and three brothers, Steve, Clarence and Bennie Grudzinski. Memorials are suggested to St. Josaphat's Catholic Church of Loup City or the Polish Heritage Center in Ashton.