Josephine 'Jo' Filothea Matisek

Dec. 20. 1911-April 13, 2004

DENVER -- Josephine "Jo" Filothea Matisek, 92, died Tuesday (April 13, 2004) in Denver, Colo.

She was born Dec. 20, 1911, to Joseph F. and Anna (Kytner) Matisek in rural Atwood. She attended grades 1-8 at Hawkeye School No. 35 in rural Atwood. In the summer of 1926, she moved to Denver to room and board with Richard O. and Isbell West. She attended East High School and took care of the West children. In 1927, she moved with the West family to Long Beach, Calif., and attended Pollyanna High School. In May 1928, she returned to Atwood and worked for WH Reeves and Son Hardware, Furniture and Undertaking and for Charlie and Ersel Pettijohn at the Curry Hotel. From 1935-1941, she joined some of her siblings in St. Louis, Mo., working in a laundry and other jobs.

In January 1942, she moved to Loveland, Colo., and worked ten years at the Lovelander Hotel. In July 1952, she began a long career with the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. She retired on Aug. 9, 1984, at 73 years of age.

She was a member of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Church in Denver.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Joseph D. and Jerry Matisek; sisters, Agnes Leitner, Mary Jane Duncan, Frances Wilson and Helen Mikesch Myers; all her brothers-in-law; two nieces; two nephews; and special friend, Hank Bath.

Survivors include her sisters, Lyda Harvanek of Denver; Sister Anne Matisek of Chicksaw, Ala., and Ruthie Matisek of Atwood; sisters-in-law, Mildred Matisek of St. Louis, Mo., and Nelly Matisek of Atwood; numerous nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian burial is Saturday, 10:30 a.m., at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church northwest of Atwood, with the Revs. Damian Richards and Roger K. Meitl officiating. Interment will be in the St. John's Cemetery.

A parish vigil and rosary recitation is Friday, 7 p.m., at Williams Funeral Home.

Visitation is Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given in her name to the Atwood Good Samaritan Center.

Williams Funeral Home of Atwood is in charge of the arrangements.