John E. Silewski, age 61 of Grafton, N.D., passed away on the evening of January 31, 2019 at Azura Memory Care of Eau Claire, after living a short number of years with young-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. In the months leading up to and especially in his last days he was visited frequently by loving family members and was compassionately cared for by the staff at Azura.
John E. Silewski was born June 14, 1957 in Grafton, N.D., the son of Chester and Patricia (Kalbrener) Silewski. He grew up in the Grafton area, attending school and graduating from Grafton High School in 1975. He attended North Dakota State University-Bottineau (now Dakota College at Bottineau) and graduated in 1977 with a degree in wildlife management. He was united in marriage to Joanie M. Schumacher on July 23, 1982 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Grafton.
Following his graduation from NDSU-Bottineau, he held a long career with BNSF Railway while pursuing many of his passions including taxidermy and wildlife management via raising several different species of upland birds. He retired from BNSF Railway in the early 2000s to become a devoted, full-time caregiver for his wife, and love of his life, Joanie.
An avid outdoorsman, John very much enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, gardening, golfing, playing hockey, seeing his waterfowl flourish, and spending time with his family at their beloved cabin near Bemidji, Minn. He had a great appreciation for craft beer and his family has many great memories of touring breweries across the upper midwest and Colorado. John is survived by his children: Melissa (Dallas) Davidson, Fargo, N.D.; Chris (Ingrid) Silewski, Eau Claire, W.I.; Brittney (Eric) Hanson, Duluth, Minn.; and Derek (Phoebe Francis) Silewski, Grafton, ND; mother: Patricia Silewski, Grafton; siblings: Mike (Karmen) Silewski, Andover, Minn.; Mary (Larry) Reid, Pensacola, Fla., David (Laurie) Silewski, Valley City, N.D.; and Joan Warnke, Grand Forks, N.D.; grandchildren: Mya, Jasmin, Henrik, Everett, Veronica, Hans, Eleanor, and Florence; and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family members. He was preceded in death by his wife: Joanie Silewski (Schumacher); father: Chester Silewski; aunt: Marilyn Kalbrener; uncle: Jim Kalbrener; and maternal and paternal grandparents. VISITATION will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2019, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Tollefson Funeral Home, 154 West 12th Street, in Grafton. A prayer service will be held Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. FUNERAL services will be held on Friday, February 8, 2019, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church, 334 W 15th Street, in Grafton. Interment will be at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in the spring.In lieu of gifts of food or flowers, the family is requesting individuals consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association in remembrance of John, to help support Alzheimer’s research and help bring an end to the terrible disease.
John E. Silewski was born June 14, 1957 in Grafton, N.D., the son of Chester and Patricia (Kalbrener) Silewski. He grew up in the Grafton area, attending school and graduating from Grafton High School in 1975. He attended North Dakota State University-Bottineau (now Dakota College at Bottineau) and graduated in 1977 with a degree in wildlife management. He was united in marriage to Joanie M. Schumacher on July 23, 1982 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Grafton.
Following his graduation from NDSU-Bottineau, he held a long career with BNSF Railway while pursuing many of his passions including taxidermy and wildlife management via raising several different species of upland birds. He retired from BNSF Railway in the early 2000s to become a devoted, full-time caregiver for his wife, and love of his life, Joanie.
An avid outdoorsman, John very much enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, gardening, golfing, playing hockey, seeing his waterfowl flourish, and spending time with his family at their beloved cabin near Bemidji, Minn. He had a great appreciation for craft beer and his family has many great memories of touring breweries across the upper midwest and Colorado. John is survived by his children: Melissa (Dallas) Davidson, Fargo, N.D.; Chris (Ingrid) Silewski, Eau Claire, W.I.; Brittney (Eric) Hanson, Duluth, Minn.; and Derek (Phoebe Francis) Silewski, Grafton, ND; mother: Patricia Silewski, Grafton; siblings: Mike (Karmen) Silewski, Andover, Minn.; Mary (Larry) Reid, Pensacola, Fla., David (Laurie) Silewski, Valley City, N.D.; and Joan Warnke, Grand Forks, N.D.; grandchildren: Mya, Jasmin, Henrik, Everett, Veronica, Hans, Eleanor, and Florence; and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family members. He was preceded in death by his wife: Joanie Silewski (Schumacher); father: Chester Silewski; aunt: Marilyn Kalbrener; uncle: Jim Kalbrener; and maternal and paternal grandparents. VISITATION will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2019, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Tollefson Funeral Home, 154 West 12th Street, in Grafton. A prayer service will be held Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. FUNERAL services will be held on Friday, February 8, 2019, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church, 334 W 15th Street, in Grafton. Interment will be at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in the spring.In lieu of gifts of food or flowers, the family is requesting individuals consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association in remembrance of John, to help support Alzheimer’s research and help bring an end to the terrible disease.
