Jo Ann Clark, age 85, passed away on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at Olathe Health Hospice House. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 12th, 2 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 138 E. Shawnee Street Gardner, Kansas. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service and masks will be required for both. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Olathe Health Charitable foundation for Olathe Hospice House or the First Presbyterian Church of Gardner. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com
Jo Ann was born on May 18, 1936, on the family farm in Gardner, Kansas, the third child of Charles and Helen (Ewing) Knabe. She was a lifelong resident of Gardner, marrying Melvin Clark on July 6, 1956. Jo Ann and Melvin, and their many friends often spent Saturday nights out dancing or enjoying card games at home, while the children played nearby. Jo Ann also loved reading, traveling, and having dinner with friends. Her eight-year-old shih-tzu, Penny, was her constant companion who brought her much joy.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Helen Knabe and her husband, Melvin Dean Clark. She is survived by her siblings Vernon (Leone) Knabe and Doris Vervynck; daughter Linda (Roy) Jensen and son, Dale (Jo Lynn) Clark, all of Gardner; and five grandchildren, Andrew (Brooke) Jensen of Wichita, Derek (Maddie) Jensen of Overland Park, Brett (Kiley) Jensen of Knoxville TN, Matthew (Rosemary) Clark of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Kyle (Amy) Clark of Lawrence. She was especially proud of her seven great-grandchildren, Charleston, William, Emerson, Sam, Sayler, Finnick, and Cordelia.