Johanna K. Cox

Johanna Katherine (Kubinski) Cox of Pine City, MN passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in the early morning hours of Friday, May 28th, 2010 at the age of 88. She was born February 25, 1922 in Northeast Minneapolis to Kasimierz and Anna (Dziakowicz) Kubinski, where she lived until adulthood.  In September of 1947, she was married to Kenneth W. Cox of Pine City at St. Hedwig’s Parish in Minneapolis, and then made her home in Pine City until her death. While she and Kenneth were raising nine children Johanna also became well-known in her church and her community for her active volunteer life.  Her involvement earned many awards and acknowledgements including the 1992 Pine City Citizen of the Year. Among her activities were: volunteer EMT with the Pine City ambulance service, Scouts and 4-H leader, hospice volunteer, actress with the Heritage Players, 55 Alive instructor, Meals on Wheels delivery, Clown, and Senior Singer as well as numerous volunteer positions with her church and St. Mary’s School.  She was a driving force in getting the new senior center built in Pine City and served several terms as the president of the Senior group.  Johanna also was an active member of both the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries.  Her voice was frequently heard on WCMP promoting various causes In 1972 Johanna also began working at Cambridge State Hospital where she successfully completed training as a Psych Tech, continuing to work there until retirement in 1986. She enjoyed traveling, first with Kenneth then on her own, to Oregon, Ohio and Texas to visit family and always made new friends along the way. She had the opportunity to travel to Europe and in 2002 attended her granddaughter’s wedding in Hawaii. Her hobbies were arts and crafts, traveling, gardening, fishing, singing, flirting, rocks, birds.  She was interested in EVERYTHING! More than all of her own achievements, she was most proud of her “wonderful family and friends”.  She believed strongly in God, her family and her country. Johanna loved life, lived it to the fullest and would willingly do an encore. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Kenneth, her sister Philomen Solonek, brothers Stan and Frank Kubinski, uncles, aunts and cousins.  She will be greatly missed by her children and their spouses & partners:  Terri Davis and Rick of Plymouth and Cedar MN, Millie Cox of Beaverton OR, Tom Cox and Loretta Powell of Huber Heights and Troy OH, LaVerne “Sis” Carlson of Fridley MN, Carol DeMarre of Grantsburg WI, Mary Icenogle and Gregg of Warren OR, Bob Cox and Julie of Grasston MN, Ron Cox and Annette of Pine City MN, and Ken Cox of Pine City MN, and her 14 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, sister-in-law Lily Kubinski of San Antonio TX, nieces, nephews and numerous other family and friends.Mass of Christian Burial has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 25th at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City with Fr. David Forsman celebrating the mass.  Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 24th with a 7:30 p.m. prayer vigil at Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City and continue on Friday one hour prior to the service in the church commons.  There will be a private interment in the church cemetery on Saturday, June 26th.