Joann Carol Zabrocki

JoAnn Carol Zabrocki passed away from complications related to Alzheimer’s on November 13, 2024 at TenderNest Assisted Living.

JoAnn was born on August 23, 1933, in Glendive, Montana, the second child to Ernest (Pete) and Ruby (Nentwig) Layman. She graduated from Dawson County High School in 1951, and enjoyed singing and tap dancing for many school assemblies.

JoAnn dated Sy Zabrocki during high school, and while he later served in Germany during the Korean War she worked as a telephone operator at Mountain Bell.  On January 16, 1954, Sy & JoAnn were married at Sacred Heart Church in Glendive. After Sy was offered a job with the Billings Gazette, Sy & JoAnn moved to Billings where they raised their 3 daughters, Connie, Deanna & Jan. JoAnn was musical and taught her daughters to sing three part harmony at a young age. As a young couple, Sy & JoAnn square-danced with the Star Allemanders.

In 1958, Sy started in the piano tuning business, and JoAnn was able to stay home with their daughters and act as secretary for the piano business. For approximately 60 years she partnered with Sy, answering phones and making appointments, reconditioning piano wood finishes, and waiting on customers. Even in their late 70’s, they could deliver a piano to a customer with no help.

Sy & JoAnn moved to Morningstar Senior Living in 2018. Sy passed away January 9, 2024, one week before their 70th wedding anniversary. They were members of St. Patrick’s Church.

JoAnn is survived by her daughters Connie McCall of Billings, Deanna Zabrocki of Billings (Mark Beadle) and Jan Swenson (Scott Simpson) of Wellington, Ontario, Canada; grandchildren Julie Simanton (Joe) of Billings, Suzanne Wong (Dominic) of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, Bryce Turcotte of Billings, Cortney Hall (David) of Portland, Oregon, Eric Swenson (Cori) of Anchorage, Alaska, and Nicole Swenson (Carson Baughman) of Anchorage, Alaska; great-grandchildren Holly Wong, Lena Baughman Swenson, Torsten Sy Swenson, Sven Baughman Swenson, Elsie Swenson; and brother Darrell (Linda) Layman of Shoreview, MN, and favorite cousin Tanya Dunlap of Burlington, Iowa.  She was preceded in death by her husband Sy, her parents, and her siblings Phyllis Wivholm and Del Layman.

Thank you to the kind and wonderful people at TenderNest Assisted Living.

There will be a family celebration of JoAnn’s life at a later date, and arrangements are under the care of Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary.