Josephine Anne "JoAnne" Neukum (nee Woytus)

Baptized into the hope of Christ's resurrection, Sunday, May 1, 2022. Beloved wife of William A. "Bill" Neukum III; dear mother and mother-in-law of Timothy (Julie), Christopher, Stephen, William (Billy) and the late David Neukum; loving grandmother of Amelia and Clara Neukum; dear sister of Mary Anne (the late Robert) Chorney, Rose Anne Woytus, Thomas Woytus and the late Stanley Woytus; our dear sister-in law, niece, aunt, cousin and friend.

JoAnne was born 1951 in St. Louis, Mo. She attended grade school at St. Stanislaus & St. Liborius. During this period her family enjoyed activities in the Polish Community. She started high school at St. Alphonsus Rock H.S. and graduated from Corpus Christi H. S. in 1969. She attended University of Missouri - St. Louis, graduating in 1973 with Bachelors of Arts & Science in Sociology. JoAnne met Bill during her first week in college and started dating not long after. She enjoyed many college activities such as attending basketball games, intramural sporting events, and fun parties, especially with Bill's fraternity.

Upon graduating from college, JoAnne stayed in St. Louis and began working for St. Luke's hospital as an administrator in the Volunteer Services Department. Bill and JoAnne married in 1976 at St. Stanislaus Church and bought a home in west St. Louis where they joined St. Monica parish. JoAnne stayed at St. Luke's for five years before the birth of their first of five boys in 1980. St. Monica parish became a central part of their spiritual and family life while raising their five boys who attended grade school there. JoAnne enjoyed her parish life with her children being involved in school, sports, scouts, and parish activities. JoAnne was blessed with two granddaughters, Amelia and Clara, daughters of Tim and Julie. She enjoyed spending as much time with them as possible, having raised five boys. She always loved cooking, trying new recipes, and hosting family dinner parties. Family was JoAnne's first priority and most important part of her life.

JoAnne's spiritual life at St. Monica included being a member of the adult education committee and the Contemplative Outreach program, and retreats. She was an avid reader of Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O. and other works on life and prayer. As a result of three of her sons attending the St. Louis Priory School, she was introduced to the Benedictine monks of St. Louis Abbey who ran the Priory school. Following the death of her second son, David, in his senior year of high school, JoAnne continued to grow in her spiritual journey learning about the life of prayer according to rule of St. Benedict. Under the spiritual direction of Abbot Gregory Mohrman, O.S.B., JoAnne was introduced to a form of prayer, Lectio Divina.

She was instrumental in starting many Lectio prayer groups, organizing retreats and lecture series, and publishing a monthly news letter for the prayer groups. After much time JoAnne furthered her dedication to the monastic way of life under the rule of St. Benedict at St. Louis Abbey by becoming an oblate, a lay member of the monastic community. She was a daily participant in the Liturgy of the Hours at morning, midday, mass, and evening prayers. She also loved to contribute around the abbey watering plants in the church and working in the surrounding gardens with volunteers and Priory boys. JoAnne was always full of joy and peace while around the Priory community.

Visitation at the Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home, 12444 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur on Friday, May 13 from 4-8 pm. Funeral Mass at St. Louis Abbey at St. Anselm Parish on Saturday, May 14 at 9 am. Interment will be private. Following the Mass, a luncheon to continue the celebration of JoAnne's life will be held in the Switzer House on the St. Louis Priory Campus. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Means-Neukum Scholarship Fund at Saint Louis Priory School, 500 S. Mason Rd. Creve Coeur, Mo. 63141.

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home www.osfuneralhomes.com