JoAnn M. Stish

JoAnn Mae Marie Stish left this world peacefully with her three children at her side and in the prayers of her grandchildren on Monday, August 4, 2025. She was 90 years young.

JoAnn was born October 20, 1934, to Elizabeth (Bette) and George Saccoman. True Italians, through-and-through, family was everything to them all. She married Walter Stish, Sr. on July 31, 1954, and together they started what would become a family full of life, legacy and love. This family started in Nashwauk, MN with their three children Mardell (Dave), Walter Jr (Sharon) and Amy (Nick) who gave her 11 wonderful grandchildren (Amanda, Christy, Jenny, Matt, Marissa, Aaron, Tyler, David, Camye, Steven and Emily). Her grandchildren then gave her what would become her greatest joys – her 16 greatgrandchildren, whom she loved fiercely with all her heart. She took so much pride in her family and her beautiful great-grand babies.

JoAnn worked with WMFG radio as a Program Director and even had the first ever radio cooking show! She also started her career as a legal secretary with MB Rustan and then began a career in tax preparation and business accounting – preparing longhand tax forms for businesses and individuals.

Her love for family and gathering was obvious in every Sunday dinner she provided. Homemade ravioli, pasta, gnocchi, sauce and meatballs were a Sunday dinner staple. Having taught her children and grandchildren how to make her special sauce (and meatballs, ravioli and gnocchi) carries on now with her great grandchildren who LOVE to help make her Italian dinners at their own homes!

JoAnn also enjoyed traveling with her family, including the many cruises and her touching trip to Italy. She loved living in Florida and Georgia with her children and getting out of the Minnesota cold! Going to casinos with her grandchildren was also one of her favorite past times. She would say she had the worst luck and she always got so excited when she won something “big”.

She showed us by example that "la famiglia é tutto" is a way of life. She taught us every day that family is the most important of all. This is obvious in the amazing relationships that her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren had with her, and all have with each other.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her; and will be fondly remembered for her deep love, her faith in the Lord, her generous heart and the many laughter-filled meals she shared with her family. May she rest in peace in God’s arms with those she loved dearly who passed before her. Heaven truly gained the most beautiful angel.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents – Elizabeth (Bette) and George Saccoman “Nana and Nanu”; her husband of 55 years, Walter Stish Sr.; and her granddaughter Amanda Carlson.

She is survived by her brother James (Frankie) Saccoman and her three children – Mardell (Dave) Bevacqua of Hudson, WI; Walter Stish Jr. (Sharon) of Apple Valley, MN; and Amy (Nick) Ausman of Sharpsburg, GA. She is also survived by her 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren – Christy (Jeremy) Luoma; Jen (Donovan) Maddocks – Ethan, Madison and Jaxon; Matt (Jessica) Carlson – Frank, Beau and Jack; Marissa (Connor) McGovern – Emery; Aaron (Elayna) Bevacqua – Eloise and Tucker; Tyler (Haley) Blair – Jameson, Colter and Truett; David (Jessica) Stish – Riley and Mason; Camye Ganske; Steven Stish; Emily (Brady) Bevacqua-Birch – Athena and Atticus; bonus great-grandchildren Delaney, Cannon, Holden, Sutton and Baylor Ausman and Ryan and Livi McLauchlin; and numerous relatives of the Stish and Saccoman families.

A private celebration of JoAnn’s life will be held in Woodbury, MN.

JoAnn’s family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at New Perspective in Woodbury for loving and caring for her so dearly. Arrangements are with the Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing and coordination with O’Halloran and Murphy, Woodbury Chapel.