Mary Joanne (Schnurr) Fitzgerald, 21 Jun 1928 - 23 May 2024

FITZGERALD, SCHNURR, BLANKENHEIM, ROCHA, WINKELS, HINZ

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 7/25/2024 at 16:03:13

Mary Joanne “Jo” Fitzgerald of Preston, MN, died on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, MN, surrounded by the love of family members. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Pat in 2019.

Joanne was born on June 21, 1928 in Waterloo, IA, to Clem and Hilda (Blankenheim) Schnurr. When reminiscing on her youthful years, she spoke about how she was one of the first girls at her high school to wear pants! She also won the Regional Spelling Bee and was elected Homecoming Queen. In 1946, she graduated from New Hampton High School in Iowa.

Jo went on to study nursing at St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing in Mason City, IA and graduated in February of 1950. She worked as an RN for 46 years including positions in Mason City, IA, Charles City, IA, Marengo, IA and in Spring Valley, MN where she retired as Director of Nursing in 1996.

On June 21, 1950, she married Leo “Pat” Fitzgerald at St. Mary’s Church in New Hampton, IA. They were married for nearly 70 years and spent over 50 years in Preston.

She will be remembered for her spirit, strength, courage, and unwavering humor. Jo was passionate about reading, following sports events, volunteering and spending quality time with her family.

We are all incredibly grateful for the time that we were able to spend with Jo, and for the impact she made on countless lives. Jo loved her community in Preston, giving back to her neighbors by doing grocery drop-offs, shopping help, delivering prepared meals, and regularly dropping off newspapers and treats to the local jail. She volunteered at the Salvation Army free clinic as a nurse, Meals on Wheels, and founded the Christmas Day Dinner at St. Columban’s, providing food and companionship for those needing a place to celebrate the holiday.

She is survived by her children; Deborah (Jim) Rocha of Tucson, AZ, Patti (Joe) Winkels of Kasson, MN, Mike (Cheryl Kreofsky) Fitzgerald of Edina, MN, Kelly (Rhonda) Fitzgerald of Amery, WI, and Erin (KC) Hinz of Rochester, MN, 7 grandchildren (Jace, Max, Molly, Mati, Ryan, Aurora and Catherine), and 11 great-grandchildren (Kyleigh, Caden, Olivia, Maizey, Preston, Aubrey, Autumn, Noah, Mackenzie, Ada and Liliana)

Memorial Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 17, 2024 at St. Columban Catholic Church in Preston, MN with Father McGrath officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30- 10:30 a.m., prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at 1:00 p.m. at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston that afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Camp Companion Pet Adoption in Rochester, MN. Donations may be made at https://www.campcompanion.org/donate/ or sent to P.O. Box 7478 Rochester, MN 55903-7478.

Published on Hindt Funeral Home website, Preston, MN.