CREMATION WAS CHOSEN AND GRAVESIDE SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT A LATER DATE IN THE SPRING AT MOUNT HOPE CEMETERY, TOPEKA, KS.
MEMORIALS ARE SUGGESTED TO: KANSAS NATURE CONSERVATORY, 2420 NW Button Rd., Topeka, KS 66618
Obituary of Jo Ann Klemmer
Jo Ann (Johnson) Klemmer was born December 12, 1926 in Eugene, Oregon to Carl Leland “Turk” Johnson and Thyra Irene (Cunningham) Johnson and died in Belleville, KS on December 31, 2020 at the age of 94 years.
She moved to Belleville with her parents at the age of two. At the age of six, her mother died and she and her siblings were then raised by their grandparents, Perry C. and Lulu Cunningham, rural Belleville. Jo Ann attended country school and graduated from Belleville High School in 1943. She spent her adult life living in Topeka, KS, until November of 2019, when she moved back to Scandia to be close to family.
Jo Ann received her bachelor’s degree in English from Washburn University, with graduate studies at Chicago University, and a Master’s Degree from Kansas University in 1963. She worked as a secretary at Menninger’s Hospital, taught English at the University of Kansas, Topeka High School, and Washburn University, published several collections of her poems, and enjoyed playing semi-pro golf. She enjoyed her guitar and singing, and challenging anyone to a good game of Scrabble.
She married Dr. Herbert Klemmer in 1963 and he died January 15, 2000. Jo Ann was also preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Joyce Larson, a brother, Perry Johnson, and her step-mother Katherine Barber.
Jo Ann is survived by a sister, Doris Salley of Ocean Park, Washington; step daughter, Barbara (Richard) Dong of Gualala, California; step grandchildren, Kara(Michael) Crawford of Washington, NC , Christopher (Patricia) Sugano of Naperville, Illinois and Jennifer (Sam) Gray of Gualala, California; 6 step great grandchildren; nieces, Marilyn Dunstan of Scandia and Lou Anne Snavely of Minneapolis, Kansas, Carol Smith of Vancouver, Washington, Steven Ackley of Pasco, Washington, and Bryan Ackley of Seattle, Washington; and great nieces and nephews.
Cremation was selected and graveside memorial services and inurnment will be held at the Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas at a later date in the spring.
Memorials are suggested in Jo Ann’s memory to Kansas Nature Conservancy, 2420 NW Button Rd,, Topeka, KS 66618
Online condolences at: www.bacheor-surber.com
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, 1322 19th ST, Belleville, KS is in charge of the arrangements
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