Catherine Jovanovich

Catherine Grace Jovanovich, age 87, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 1, 2025, at Evergreen Retirement Community - Oshkosh. She was born on April 19,1938, to the late Elmer and Ruth Godsell. On January 19, 1957, she married Milo Jovanovich. Cathy worked as a teller for Associated Bank for almost 30 years, until her retirement.

Despite the fact that Cathy had Multiple Sclerosis for close to 60 years, she persevered with grit and fierce determination to not let this debilitating disease limit her lifestyle or dampen her quick wit and sense of humor. While she was able, she travelled, attended weddings, holidays, and many family events. When she was unable to physically attend, technology made it possible for her to have daily facetime chats with her family and to see them compete in Ironman, cross country, powerlifting, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, hunting, dog shows, gymnastics, and barrel racing competitions. Her life was full. Cathy also enjoyed playing Bridge, Mahjong, Scrabble, and Cribbage with her many friends and family, and she watched Jeopardy to keep her mind sharp.

Cathy is survived by her children, Michael (Mary) Jovanovich, Lisa (Tom) Jones, and Patti (David) Coopman; 8 grandchildren, Sarah (Christian) Holzheu, Eric (Julie) Jovanovich, Meghan Jovanovich, Lindsay (Adam) Antoniskis, Michael (Abbie) Petersen, Geoff Petersen, Matthew (Rochelle) Coopman, Alex (Jen) Coopman, Michael Jones, and Phillip Jones; and 13 great grandchildren. Cathy is further survived by her sisters, Sheila Durica and Marianna (Michael) Bruch, brother-in-laws Robert (Ginny) Jovanovich and Ronald (Ricki) Jovanovich; sister-in-law Mary Jovanovich and several nieces and nephews, and Cathy’s very dear friend, Carol Wilhelm.

Cathy was preceded in death by her husband, infant daughter Lori Ann, parents, Uncle Art Garbutt, brother William Godsell, sister Ruth Bolger, brother-in-laws Richard Bolger, David Durica, and Sam Jovanovich, and nephew Tom Bolger.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on December 12, 2025, at St. Rapheal the Archangel Catholic Church, 830 S. Westhaven Dr., Oshkosh, WI, with Fr. Tom Long officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Lunch will follow. After lunch, a burial ceremony will take place. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established.

The family would like to thank the whole team at Evergreen for the loving care they provided to Cathy. A special thank you to her Evergreen caregivers, Terri and Tiffany and also to Malissa and her care team at Generations Hospice.