JOANN SOUKUP

JoAnn Soukup passed away on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at Avera Bormann Manor in Parkston, at the age of 85 years and nine days.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service Tuesday, June 8 at St. Leo Catholic Church, Tyndall. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 9 with burial at 3:00 p.m. in Bohemian Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Dante (six miles east and two miles north of Wagner).

JoAnn Homolka Soukup was born on May 25, 1936 in Mitchell to Thomas and Ann (Cihak) Sykora. They lived on a farm east of Wagner.

After graduating from Mount Marty High School she married Franklin Homolka in 1956. She worked as a telephone switchboard operator for a few years. Together they farmed near Wagner and raised three children. JoAnn farmed hands-on when Franklin lost his eyesight and continued to farm after his death in 1979. With her daughters’ help, JoAnn owned and operated the Dante Grocery store for several years. JoAnn continued to farm even after the loss of her son Dennis in 1981. She worked in the kitchen at the Wagner hospital for several years and sold Avon products for nearly 25 years. She loved to talk with people.

In 1987 she married Richard Soukup and continued to enjoy country life near Scotland. JoAnn would help on the farm if needed, but was able to enjoy growing flowers and a garden, work on her many craft projects, play with the dogs and tend her cats. The dogs loved her and loved to dig in her flowerbeds! JoAnn and Richard enjoyed Polka dancing, traveling and going to church bazaars.

JoAnn loved to cook too. She always had coffee and a sweet treat or snacks for any visitor. She was famous for her kolaches and poppy seed bars. She would always want to 'send you home with something' to eat later. She was generous, full of love, and was always thinking of ways to help people and make everyone happy.

Her health declined several years after losing her husband Richard in 2015 and she moved into Avera Assisted Living in 2018.

JoAnn is survived and remembered by her two daughters: Linda (John) Mortimore of Mitchell and Carol (Gary) Roth of Delmont; three stepsons: Mike (Shelly) Soukup of Scotland, Don Soukup (friend Marcey) of Scotland and Gary (Konnie) Soukup of Scotland; her sister Karen Andersen of Wagner; her brother Fr. Paul Sykora of Bolivia; four grandchildren: Kyle (Shelly) Roth and family of Hartford, Jeff Roth of Denver, Bryce (Brittney) Roth of Delmont and Caitlyn (Caleb) Clements and family of Wagner; four step-grandchildren: Nick (Jesse) Soukup of Tyndall, Cody Soukup of Scotland, Cassidy Soukup of Scotland and Colby Soukup of Scotland and five great grandchildren: Bennett, Logan and Carter Roth and Camry and Chase Clements.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, both her husbands, her teenage son Dennis, and many family members and friends.