Joyce (Jo) Ellen Modjeski DeWoody, 62, died June 3, 2021 in Shreveport Louisiana.

Jo was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 30, 1959, youngest child of the late Edmund F. Modjeski and Anne Kowalczewski Modjeski. Jo grew up in Greenfield, Wisconsin and attended St. Charles Borromeo School Milwaukee; Greenfield High School and Pulaski High School in Milwaukee. Later Jo resided in Dallas, TX; Prescott, AR; Hope, AR; and Shreveport, LA.

She worked on the M-K-T railroad and as a commercial and decorative painter for many years. Her passion was historic preservation, especially of residential buildings.  Jo was a creative and talented home remodeler and furniture restorer. She studied at University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana; Louisiana State University at Shreveport and the University of New Orleans. She received her paralegal certificate from Remington College, Shreveport.

Jo had endless curiosity about history of all kinds and compassion for living creatures, both human and animal. She often rescued cats, nursing them to health.  A "can do" work ethic led her to learn to repair and restore almost any object in her daily life. Her friendships, once made, endured many years.

Jo was preceded in death by her former husbands, James Stringer and John DeWoody.  She is survived by her children Cherilyn Stringer (Eric Grodziski) of Austin TX, Jacob DeWoody (Ashley) of Prescott AR; sisters Christine Robinson of Portland OR and Carole Glass (Adam) of Menomonee Falls WI; grandchildren Alexa and Dylan Grodziski and Addison and Gracelyn DeWoody; nephews, Gregory Robinson of Plano, TX and Brian Robinson of Williamsburg, VA; nieces, Natasha, Clara, and Isabella and other extended family.

A small family gathering will be held July 17, 2021 in West Allis, WI to honor Jo's life. Donations may be made to The Historic New Orleans Collection  https://www.hnoc.org/support/make-donation  or Wisconsin Humane Society  https://www.wihumane.org/donate/memorials-honorary-gifts  .