JoAnne Cerny

JoAnne Lund Cerny, 92, Wausau, died peacefully at Stonecrest Residence on April 14, 2024. JoAnne was born June 29, 1931, in Davenport, lowa to the late Lillian (Ofsdahl) and Christ Lund. She was a graduate of Wausau High School and received a Bachelor's Degree from UW Stevens Point. She was an elementary school teacher in Wausau for many years.

JoAnne married Robert Hoskin in 1951, had three children, Christopher Hoskin, Carlsbad, CA, Mark Hoskin, married to Jean (Schoenfeldt), Houghton, MI and Kathryn Nunez, Phoenix, AZ. JoAnne and Robert divorced in 1962 and JoAnne and the children moved back to her hometown of Wausau. With her degree in education, JoAnne taught at Lincoln Elementary School for a quarter century, both at the original building and new building. She loved her job and co-workers and always had funny and interesting stories of life as a teacher.

She met William Cerny in 1970 and they married in 1972 at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Together they created a very happy marriage and blended family with the addition of Bill's children, Stafford, Laura, Collier and Bill Jr.

Bill and JoAnne were married for 48 years until his passing on October 21, 2020 from COVID. Together they traveled extensively in the United States and Europe, even earning their Master's of Education Degrees together in Sweden in 1979. They were active members of Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Democratic Party.

JoAnne's parents immigrated from Norway and Bill's parents immigrated from Czechoslovakia and the household melded traditions and customs from both cultures.

Later in life, JoAnne and Bill, both being educators, often audited classes at UW Extension in Wausau. They also promoted many progressive causes, including Planned Parenthood, Doctors Without Borders, Sierra Club and Habitat for Humanity, among others.

JoAnne is survived by her children and two grandsons, Marcus Nunez and Michael Nunez (Julya) and great grandchildren Olivia Nunez and Jack Koalska. Her dear sister and only sibling, Audrey Sievert, passed before her in 2009 and Audrey's husband Bill passed in 2012. Their children: Laura, Peter, David and Jane Sievert remained close to JoAnne her entire life. From her first marriage, JoAnne also had nephews and nieces from the Hoffman and Durkee families of Wausau.

The family would like to thank Stonecrest Residence and Interim Hospice for their kind and professional care of JoAnne.

Friends and family are welcome to a celebration of JoAnne's life on Friday, June 28, 2024 at 5:00 pm at Sylvan Hill Park Chalet. A representative from Immanuel Lutheran Church will start the gathering off and a dinner will follow.

Memorials can be sent to Interim Hospice, 510 N. 17th Ave. Ste A, Wausau, WI 54401 or Wausau Habitat for Humanity, 1810 Schofield Ave., Weston, WI 54476.