Viola Kaminski

Green Bay - Viola (Maciejewski) Kaminski passed away peacefully August 01, 2022 just weeks after her 101st birthday. Viola was born July 12, 1921 to the late Theodore and Veronica (Szlejewski) Maciejewski in WI, the seventh of ten children. It is here where she was introduced to her unfaltering Catholic faith, the love of family and the value of hard work.

In the 7th grade she met her future husband, Richard Sylvester Kaminski, and after dating many years they married and had one daughter, Joyce Judith, in 1940. After farming and tavern ownership they finally settled down long term in Kunesh, WI. While residing here, she worked for years at the shoe factory before starting a business reupholstering furniture, although the love of her family and God were the most important things in her life.

After losing her son, John, in late pregnancy, Viola was unable to have more children. When Joyce had four daughters over the course of the years, Viola poured her love into them, to their children and then her grandchildren's children. She provided never-ending support, genuine interest, loyalty and generosity their entire lives. She was the true meaning of unconditional love.


Viola's strong Catholic faith led her to church where she volunteered in many ways, one of which was preparing and serving food for funerals until she was well into her 90's. Her giving spirit touched many throughout her life and she happily opened her home repeatedly to family members in need. Cooking, baking, gardening, (flowers and vegetables), knitting and sewing clothing and doll clothes for her grandchildren were all interests which also gave Viola even more opportunities to share with her friends and family.


Viola is survived by four granddaughters, Nancy (Paul) Geniesse, Andrea (Jeff) Sutton, Pamela (John) Watkins and Brenda Gonzalez; one sister, Ceil Reince; great-grandchildren, Tressa Watkins, Morgan Watkins, Kimbre (Joshua) Fleck, Garrett Sutton, Alyssa Sutton and Peyton Gonzalez; great-great-grandchildren, Elle Watkins and Bronson Fleck; and many special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Kaminski; her daughter, Joyce (Paul) Janssen; brothers, Leo Maciejewski, Joseph (Beatrice) Maciejewski, Felix (Beatrice) Maciejewski; and sisters, Mary (Earl) St. John, Emily (Jake) Preslaski, Angeline (George) Tuttle and Natalie (Frank) Borzych.

Family and friends may visit from 1:00pm to 2:45pm at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 220 S. Michigan St., De Pere, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:00pm. Private entombment will take place at Shrine of the Good Shepherd Mausoleum.

We are forever grateful to Nancy Geniesse for the remarkable care she gave her grandmother the last years of her life. We appreciate the sacrifices made and the tremendous positive impact on her life she had.

A special thank you is extended to the staff of Allouez Parkside Village #2 and to Heartland Hospice for the exceptional and loving care Viola received during her time there.

God looked around His garden
and found an empty space
Then He looked down upon this earth
and saw your tired face
He put his arms around you
and lifted you to rest
God's garden must be beautiful
He only takes the best