Joan Mizinski Urbaniak passed away Sunday, December 14, 2014 in Superior, WI. She was 62 years old.

Joan was born to Anne (Norkunas) and Walter Mizinski on August 4, 1952. She was their youngest child and she is survived by Judy (Jack) Mandel and Walter (Wende) Mizinksi. Joan spent her life living in and loving the Twin Ports. She was proud of her Catholic education and deeply rooted in her community, graduating from Superior Senior High School in 1970 and achieving her Master's in Education from UWS in 1980.

Joan instilled the love of reading in her daughters Robyn (Jason) Colavito and Jana (Jason) Sutherland, as well as her grandchildren, Morgan Minter, Cole Ward, Maryn Graskey and Jay "Rocky" Colavito. She was an avid newspaper reader and obituary-cutter-outer. In her honor, please clip this one and send to someone who went to school with her, lived next door to her or loved her.

Joan was married and divorced to Daniel Urbaniak. She spent the last 15 years of her life in a close and loving friendship with Dennis Hoff, also of Superior. They were travel companions, dear friends, avid Packer fans, and rarely missed a Spartans football game.

She devoted her life to teaching and was self-dubbed "a damn good teacher," to which no one would ever argue. She started her career in the Superior School District and spent recent years teaching in many capabilities including adult education. Outside of her paid vocation, she was a natural teacher and her family will continue to be her faithful students, forever indebted for innumerable lessons. She was spunky, fun, silly and smart as well as kind. She will forever be remembered for her beauty and ability to make anyone a fast friend.

Joan will be honored at Cathedral of Christ the King on Thursday, December 18, 2014, with a visitation from 9:30 until the 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. She will be cremated and her daughters will honor her with carefully considering the proper resting place for her ashes. A luncheon will follow in Kress Hall. Honorary pallbearers will be Dennis Hoff, her dear and loving friend; Jason Colavito, her favorite son in law; Jason Sutherland, her favorite son in law; Josh Mandel, her favorite nephew,Jeremy Miller, her favorite nephew and Brady Mizinski, her favorite nephew.

The family welcomes the outpouring of love they continue to receive in the wake of this sudden news. A memorial fund will be set in her name, please send donations to: Robyn Colavito, 2032 Bidwell Way, Sacramento, CA 95818.