Jean & Ervin Stawski
- Visitation: Thursday, March 16th, 2023 from 10 AM – 11:30 AM at Heritage Funeral Home (4800 S. 84th St. Greenfield, WI)
- Funeral Service: Thursday, March 16th, 2023, 11:30 AM at Heritage Funeral Home (4800 S. 84th St. Greenfield, WI)
- Interment: St. Adalbert Cemetery
Jean L. “Jeanie” Stawski passed away on February 25, 2023 at the age of 92. Jean was preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, Ervin J. Stawski, who passed away on October 12, 2021 at the age of 91. Jean and Ervin met at the University of Iowa and were married in 1958.
They spent a short time pursuing their careers in New York City, before moving to Europe in 1961. They lived in Munich, Germany for 32 years enjoying life to its fullest. Jean had a wonderful career in opera performing throughout Europe and established a private studio in Munich where she instructed many aspiring vocalists and pianists. Even after their return to the U.S., Jean continued her voice coaching as well as teaching piano.
Ervin taught at the University of Maryland Munich Germany campus as an Art History Professor. He was a fine artist in his own right and studied with some of the great masters. Ervin experienced many adventures during this time taking students touring throughout Europe. Ervin was especially fond of Egypt and the great pyramids of Giza.
In 1995 they decided it was time to return to the U.S. They moved back to Ervin’s hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jean and Ervin’s lives were filled with so many beautiful and wonderful people who became dear friends over the years and are still to this day.
They were partners in a life filled with culture and fine arts.
Jean and Ervin will be sorely missed by their surviving nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations to your favorite charity would be appreciated.
Visitation will be held Thursday March 16th, 2023 from 10 to 11:30 AM CST with a service to follow at The Heritage Funeral Home located at 4800 South 84th Street Greenfield WI 53228 followed by interment at St. Adalbert cemetery 3801 South 6th Street, Milwaukee WI. 53221.
Beautifully said. They were wonderfully fascinating with so many talents. They never ceased to amaze. Imagine my complete awe when I learned that Aunt Jean played in one of my favourite movies, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. I have great memories of experiencing EPCOT at Walt Disney World with Uncle Ervin, what an adventure we had! Such a blessing to have had them as family. They will both be missed .
Jean and Erv were our neighbors for 14 years in Munich. I worked with Erv at the University of Maryland, and Jeanie and I were “Tea Totalers” together and spent many an afternoon at 5:00 pm Tea Time” sipping our favorite “Bewley’s Afternoon Tea” at either her place. or mine. We both moved back to the states around the same time and – up until her passing -I was happy to have continued our Tea Times with phone chats from Florida to Wisconsin (and one last “Wiedersehen” with her & Erv in Florida many years back!).
As staff of U of M. I was extremely fortunate to have accompanied Erv on some of his wonderful and exciting Art tours throughout Europe. What a character he was! Times with the Stawskis were ALWAYS fun and exciting!!! They were our dearest friends and we are blessed to have shared such joy and laughter with them! Dearest Jean and Erv = I can hear your happy laughter as you are together at last! Save a place for us! We love you and miss you dearly xox…
Susan and Vasil Vasilev
I was an Japanese fresh college graduated student who started to study voice with the foreign teacher in Munich.
I was looking for an other voice teacher, can teach me and save from my dilemma., I could understand why I cannot improve, even I was practicing very hard.
In 1984 I met Mrs. Jean Stawski just by chance , No! by fate. It is really the most important destined encounter of my life.
I was very first Japanese student for Mrs. Stawski. It was not easy for her to understand me and my voice, because German or English are so different from Japanese,
not only language but also physical use. She was very sensitive and patient with me. Her lesson was so interesting and lovely, therefore I was immensely curious, why
she can teach me so clear and understandable. At last she recommended me to go to the lesson of the Alexander Technique, though I can understand why her teachings
make sense. Right after I had the first AT lesson and decided to become the AT teacher. During the teacher training in London for 3 years I had her lesson in Munich once a month. Mrs. Stawski is my voice teacher for my life long. After I came back to Japan in 1993 as the first Japanese AT teacher and she and her husband , Ervin went back to USA, I visited them in Milwaukee twice. Once I brought my AT student and Voice student with me. Now she is not more with us but her legacy is in my life and my teaching. Mr. Ervin Stawski was always very kind to me and fun. And their family was very friendly to me. I am looking forward to visiting you again in the near future.
Jean was one of the most wonderful teachers I had during my studies in Germany. She opened up my singing and teaching possibilities. I will always treasure the wonderful things that happened in that lesson studio near Marienplatz in Munich, where every lesson lasted exactly 45 minutes and was like magic. I still use and teach what she taught me. Thank you, Mrs. Stawski ! I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I miss you so much.
I met Erv and Jeanie during their life in Munich, since we both worked at the Maryland University. This has been nearly 40 years ago and we stayed friends since then, even visited each other back and forth after they moved back to the US. I cherish all the lovely memories we made all over Europe and the US. We shared the same passion for arts and music, organized lots of art exhibitions together and saw so many amazing places during our travels, Erv was always able to astonish me with his knowledge and his stories and was one of the funniest people I met. Jean was a very loving soul with lots of energy and I am so glad we continued with the Sunday calls after Erv‘s passing and kept the tradition alive.
Me and my family, have lots of great memories with Jean and Erv and lost two very good friends. We will miss them dearly!
Adi, Margit & Charlotte Fronk
Jean was my voice teacher for many years in Munich. She brought more than vocal technique to the lessons. She suggested many other avenues of self improvement such as Alexander Technique, Autogenous Training, Logopaedie, Breathing techniques, Eurythmics, Silva Mind Control. All these skills made me a better person and well developed artist. We went to fascinating seminars together in London. She had a great thirst for knowledge and helped each individual to improve themself in his or her special way.
My Uncle Ervin and Aunt Jean will be missed by many. They were both very special to me. Their lifestyle, interests, and travels were always fascinating. Ervin was like a walking encyclopedia! He knew so much about our family’s history in Poland. The 2 of them figured out the recipe to a happy life. It’s very hard to realize that they are gone now. The last in our family from that generation. May they Rest in Peace.
Sadly I never met Jean but Erv Stawski was my Art teacher for 2 years at the Univ of Maryland, Munich from 1970-1973. We traveled to Egypt and Israel together as part of a group. I have a photo of him at the bottom of an open “crypt” where he fell and I believe permanently damaged his leg. He was a lovely man and a phenomenal teacher. He was passionate about what he taught; was demanding but never held back praise when it was earned. I remember him very fondly and am so sorry we did not keep in touch.