Joanne Mary 'Joey' (Steyn) Grathwol

Grathwol, Joanne Mary (Steyn) "Joey" 81, died peacefully, November 29, 2016, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Born in New York City, Joey never forgot her East Coast roots but was a happily transplanted Minnesotan for much of her adult life. Joey graduated from St Catherine's University and counted among her proudest accomplishments the fact that she voted in every national election since coming of voting age, that she read all of the novels of Anthony Trollope in her seventies, and that she was a published poet. Joey was preceded in death by her husband, John McKeon Grathwol. As the matriarch of her family, Joey has 5 living children, Sean Grathwol, Colleen Grathwol & husband, Scott Ferguson, Lucian Grathwol, Kathleen Grathwol, Tim Grathwol & wife, Beka Butter Grathwol, and one child, Michael Grathwol, who also preceded her in death. Joey was the proud grandmother of 8 beautiful grandchildren: Caitlin, Elijah, Ava, Nick, McKeon, Dyllan, Bozena & Hazel. Joey's family will host a memorial for her, when the flowers bloom, in the late spring of 2017; tentatively scheduled at the Heffelfinger Fountain next to the Rose Gardens by Lake Harriett, Saturday, June 24th, 2017, followed by a picnic lunch. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Friends of the Hennepin County Library (supporthclib.org/…) in Joey's name.

Published on December 4, 2016