Josephine M. Kaczmarek, 92, of Bowman, ND, formerly of Scranton, ND, passed away on Monday, February 29, 2016 at the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Center in Bowman.
Mass of Christian Burial for Josephine will be on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Scranton. Fr. Stephen Folorunso and Fr. David Morman will concelebrate the Mass with burial to follow in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Scranton, ND. There will be a Rosary and Vigil service on Friday evening at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Visitation for Josephine will be on Friday, March 4, 2016 from 11-2 at the Krebsbach Funeral Home Chapel and from 2:30-4 at the SWHC Long Term Chapel.
Josephine Magdalena Schaaf was born to Valentine Sr. and Barbara (Schaff) Schaaf on their family farm north of Buffalo Springs, ND. Josephine helped on the farm and hired out to other families as their babysitter or hired girl. She received her elementary education at Talbot Country School and then was a graduate of Buffalo Springs High School graduating in 1940 as the last graduating class for Buffalo Springs High School.
She met Roman at a barn dance and that began their courtship. They were married on March 31st, 1943 at St Charles Catholic Church in Bowman, ND. Roman was enlisted in the Army and their 1st home was in Ogden, UT. Roman received an honorable discharge from the Army and in 1944 they moved to the farm south of Scranton that was homesteaded by Roman's parents. Six children were born to Josephine and Roman; Jim, Marlene, Barbara, Lynette, Rita, and Pam. Roman passed away on October 14, 1987.
For 44 years, Josephine worked in the fields right along with her husband. She seeded, shoveled grain, hauled grain, summer fallowed, stacked hay, combined, milked cows, had a large garden, and loved all the chickens that she raised. She was a hard worker. Even with the work on the farm, she found time to be a member of many organizations including Sacred Heart Guild, Scranton American Legion Auxiliary, Charter member of Catholic Daughters, Gascoyne PTA, Goldfield Township school board, Scranton Volleyball Club, Scranton Band Parents, Dickinson Singles Club, Happy Modernaire Homemakers Club, and Red Hat Society. Josephine was such a kind and giving person. She always was concerned about the needs of others before herself. Her smile could light up the room and she kept that up to her final hours.
She loved the family get-togethers, especially when she played the accordion or organ and her 5 girls accompanied her on various instruments. Another of her favorites was singing and harmonizing with her daughters, a gift from her that has passed down 3 generations. In her younger days, she even played for dances with her brother Val.
She loved her children and grandchildren. A baby could melt her heart in an instant. Her grandchildren have great memories of Grandma's fried chicken and gingerbread man pancakes. She loved dancing and playing cards with her friends, especially the game of pinochle. She loved people and was always happy to visit. She was known as Grandma Jo to many.
When life became too hard to live at home, she entered the Bowman Nursing Home in December of 2008. It was very apparent that she captured the hearts of the employees with her outgoing personality and gentle spirit. While in the home, she was Secretary and President of the Resident Council. She wrote resident news for the Bowman County Pioneer for 5 years. She loved crafting. She made many many craft items throughout her life. Always giving away more than she sold. When you visited her, you never left empty handed. Her passion was her baskets. She made a total of 931, again, giving away over half of them. Each of her great grandchildren was blessed with a baby quilt she made for them. They are proudly displayed draped over the pews.
Her Catholic faith and love for Jesus meant everything to her. Attending Mass or Rosary Service was of utmost importance even when it was hard for her. She lived her faith out in her kind and gentle spirit.
She is survived by: her children, Jim & Bonnie Kaczmarek, Hastings, MN, Marlene Lutes, Bowman, ND, Barbara & David Kitzan, Hazen Bay, ND, Lynette Kaczmarek, Hettinger, ND, Rita & Loren Schmeichel, Milbank, SD, Pam & John Meier, Scranton, ND, 16 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild, son in law Al Meier, sister in law Maggie Schaaf, Godsons Marvin Hecker and Richard Schaaf and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death was her husband Roman in 1987, parents Valentine Sr and Barbara Schaaf, Brothers Val Jr. (Tillie) Schaaf (1999), Clem Schaaf (2015), Bernie Schaaf (1946), Sister Elizabeth (Edward) Hecker (2009), and son in law Darrell Lutes (2010).