JoAnne Lucille Lonsway

JoAnne Lucille Lonsway
Saginaw, Michigan

Beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away peacefully at Harper Hospital, 81 years of age, on Friday, October 30, 2020. She possessed a great faith and love of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the holy family. Her family was the most important thing in her life.

She was born on March 8, 1939, Omaha, Nebraska, daughter of the late John and Loretta (Mischo) Manhart. She attended Our Lady of Lourdes elementary school, 1944-1953 and Mercy High School 1954-1957. She married Lawrence H. Lonsway on September 1, 1962; they were married for 58 years. Lawrence survives her. They lived in Kinde, Chelsea, Freeland, and Saginaw, Michigan. They lived in San Benito, Texas during the winter for about 10 years after her husband retired. She enjoyed being in the HOSTS program in Texas.

She enjoyed square dancing, bowling, camping, and was an avid card player. She was a long-time member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, where she sang and played her banjo in the choir for several years. She volunteered in the gift shop for over 21 years, was treasurer of the auxiliary, at Healthsource, Saginaw, and helped in the Brown Bag Bunch, at St. Thomas of Aquinas Parish, for many years.

Surviving besides her husband of 58 years, Lawrence; are five sons, one daughter and their spouses: Christopher Lawrence and Julie Lonsway; Marie Kathryn Gaertner; Eric John Lonsway; Paul Joseph and Tammy Lonsway; David Peter Lonsway; Lawrence James Lonsway; nine grandchildren: Zachary (Kendra) Lonsway; Josiah (Camelia) Lonsway; Matthew (Kate) Lonsway; Kirsten Lonsway; Brandon Lonsway; Lisa Gaertner; Robert Gaertner; Sarah Gaertner; Jake Lonsway; three great-grandchildren: Emma Bell Lonsway; Jake Lonsway; Etta Jane Lonsway; one sister surviving, Claire Manhart, Eldorrado Hills, California.

Besides her parents, JoAnne was preceded in death by three sisters and their husbands: Mary and Chuck Gurnon, Omaha; Rose and Kenny Jacobsen, Fresno, Cal; Rita Manhart, Omaha; her brothers: Vince Manhart, Colorado; Larry and Carrol Manhart, Santa Rosa; John Manhart, Omaha; and Tommy Manhart, Omaha.

Funeral Liturgy will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 5, 2020 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1035 N. River Road, Saginaw. Rev. Fr. Peter J. Gaspeny will officiate with a Rite of Committal to follow at St. Andrew Catholic Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at W. L. Case and Company Funeral Chapel, 201 N. Miller Road; and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of mass on Friday at the church. A Vigil Service will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral chapel. Pursuant to the current state executive order, indoor building capacity is limited, face covers are required, and social distancing is encouraged. We appreciate everyone’s efforts to reduce the spread of covid-19 in our community. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (National Processing Center, P.O. Box 96011, Washington D.C. 20090) or St. Joseph's Indian School, Chamberlain, South Dakota.