Josephine "Jo" Savary

Josephine Eunice Buckholdt Savary, age 89, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend entered into eternal rest and went to be with our LORD and Savior on Thursday, January 14, 2021. “Jo” was born May 13, 1931 in San Antonio, Texas, the fourth child of Ferdinand “Fred” Charles Buckholdt Sr. and Hazel “Gaki” (Hawlowetz) Buckholdt. She will always be affectionately known as “Jo”, “Baby Jo”, “Aunt Jo”, “Grandma” or “Grandmama” by all her family and friends.

Josephine graduated from St. Patrick’s Academy in 1948. She then attended Southwest Business Institute, where she excelled and taught, then later used her skills as a court stenographer. She was homemaker and constant companion for her four children as they maneuvered the joys and challenges of early life and education. She would sit and read with them, patiently guiding them as they mastered writing skills and supplemented school homework with challenging games and tasks. Even her approach to teaching discipline incorporated rewards that conveyed a sense of pride and achievement when expectations were met. And then there was the lesson that most tasks, especially those done together with others, go so much smoother when you are singing.

Jo and Gerry gave up much to ensure their children had a strong Catholic education. They recognized how important, and fun, it was to learn a skill that could give them an edge in later life. Typing, was one of these skills, made more fun by computer games that tested speed and accuracy, and her children and grandchildren can attest to the fact that Grandma most often held the high score. That competitive spirit was reflected in every game she eagerly enjoyed playing with her mother, siblings, children, grands, great-grands, nieces, nephews… Jo had a keen sense for recognizing her children’s strengths and interests, and helped them in so many ways to define the goals and directions in life that would lead to happiness and security.

After her children had grown, Jo worked alongside her husband at the Zowarka-Savary Service Station until it was sold. Then she became a medical transcriptionist where she made more close friends. Jo had a long held interest in discovering her family roots, and later in life became more heavily involved in geneology research. Her resultant “book” and records (both printed and recordings of ancestors) contain a wealth of information about the Buckholdt and Hawlowetz family trees.

Josephine was very active in her home and faith community. She was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Parish where she had participated as a member in the Legion of Mary and the school PTC. She helped with many projects for the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and CYO. Additionally, she and her sisters spearheaded a school fundraiser that raised enough S&H Green Stamps to trade-in for a car for the nuns who were teaching there at the time. She was also an active member of her neighborhood watch group, advocating for necessary funding to repair and improve streets and increase police protection.

Josephine was a devout Catholic, proud native San Antonian and Texan, and a strong patriot. She will be dearly missed but always fondly and affectionately remembered in our hearts and prayers.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Hazel Buckholdt, husband, Gerald Lawrence Savary and her siblings, Mary Lou Zowarka and Fred C. Buckholdt Jr. She is survived by her children, Cynthia (David) Wood, Cherylyn Savary; Gerald (Cindy) Savary Jr, Donna (Tony) Clemens; grandchildren, David (Melissa) Wood, Jr., Jeffrey (Jessica) Wood, Leisha Wood, Bryan (Lindsay) Wood, Laurie (Joshua) Knutson , Timothy (Kriston) Wood, Melissa (Daryl) Hanley, Pamela Wood-Pate (RC Pate), Randall Gibbens (Krystynn), Krystle Gibbens, Brandon (Amanda) Clemens, Quentin Clemens (Chela), Neil (Elizabeth) Zimmerman, Kristen (Randall) French; great-grandchildren, Seth, Michael, Caleb, Travis (Geneva), Dylan, Job, Ryan, Cheyenne, Chase, Ashley, Peyton, Athena, Lilian, Elizabeth, Addisyn, Jackson, Utah, Ani, Zachary, Benjamin; sisters: Punky Holbrook and Patricia (Harold) Stein, sisters-in-law, Ruth Savary, Bernice LeBow; nieces and nephews, Savary family: Roy, Jay, Jon; Buckholdt family: Vicky, Anthony; Zowarka family: Bobbie Jo, Raymond, Melanie, Laura, Wendy, Paula; Holbrook family: Suzan, Linda, Bonnie, Joe, Debra, Nancy, Patricia, Dana; Stein family: Harold, Kevon, Kerry, Keith, Ken, Kimberly, Kyle; LeBow family: Elizabeth, Sharon; and all their spouses and children.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hope for the Future,

Hope for the Future

2718 W. Woodlawn Ave.

San Antonio, Texas 78258

210.734.1673

[email protected]

We would like to thank all the doctors, nurses and staff of Compassus who helped our sister take such wonderful care of Mom these last many years.