Winona Piontkowski, 86 of Grand Island, Nebraska formerly of Loup City, Nebraska died peacefully Saturday, August 15, 2026 surrounded by her family at Bryan West Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 20, 2026 at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City. Father Richard Piontkowski will celebrate the mass and will be assisted by Father Mark Maresh. Interment will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 19 at the church with a rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Piontkowski family for later designation or donor’s choice. The funeral will be livestreamed on the funeral home Facebook page. The direct link is facebook.com/higgins.funeral.home.loup.city/

     Winona F. (Schnase) Piontkowski was born at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Loup City, NE on February 19, 1940 to William and Myrtle (Rogers) Schnase. She lived on a farm between Loup City and Arcadia and attended School District #5 near Loup City through the 7th grade. Then the family moved to Loup City where she attended Loup City High School. On June 22, 1957 she married Ronald Piontkowski at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City. They were blessed with eight children. They lived on a farm near Loup City. In June, 1967 they moved into Loup City. She cooked and waitressed at several cafes in Loup City. After that she was a dietary cook at Rose Lane Nursing Home for 10 years and then retired. She was a member of St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City. Winona enjoyed classic country music, cooking and baking for her family and friends and doing puzzles.

     She is survived by her children, Timothy (Patricia) Piontkowski of Loup City, NE; Patricia (Timothy) Jensen of Lincoln, NE; Mary (Steve Jones) Piontkowski-Delancey of Lincoln, NE; Kenneth Piontkowski of Grand Island, NE; Randal Piontkowski of Grand Island, NE; Leonard (Carrie) Piontkowski of Grand Island, NE; eight grandchildren; one step-grandchild; thirteen great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; very special friend, Arthur Anson of Grand Island, NE; daughter-in-law, Audrey Piontkowski of Grand Island, NE; brother, Carl Schnase of Lincoln, NE and sister, Leona Kluna of Grand Island, NE.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Myrtle; husband, Ron; sons, Mark and Earle; brothers, Grant, Bill and John; sisters, Lois, Myrtle, Doris and Juanita and step-grandson, Brian Jasnoch.