Jo Ann Gerken

Little Rock, IA 

     Jo Gerken age 78 of Little Rock, IA passed away Sunday, January 9, 2022, at Sibley Specialty Care in Sibley, IA.

     Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 14^th at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, IA, with Reverend Barry Wynveen officiating.

     Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Little Rock, IA.

     Visitation will be Thursday, January 13th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., with the family present at the Salem Reformed Church of Little Rock, IA.

     Jo Ann (Schoon) Gerken was born on June 20, 1943, in Sibley, IA, the daughter of George and Wilma (Tellinghuisen) Schoon. Jo and her family lived on a farm near Reading, MN until the 8^th grade, the family then moved to Little Rock, IA. She later graduated from Little Rock High School in 1961. Jo then attended New Ulm St. Mary’s LPN School.

     On June 26, 1964, she was united in marriage to Lyle Gerken at the Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, IA. Jo worked at the Osceola Community Hospital as a nurse for over 40 years, retiring in 2007.

     She was a member of the Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock. She enjoyed camping, reading, baking, watching TV, and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at their events and weddings. She also enjoyed spending time at the lake and her time in Arizona. Her grandchildren’s favorite thing to do was visit Grandma Jo and have a Reese’s candy bar that was always stocked in her cupboard.

     Jo is survived by her husband of fifty-seven years, Lyle Gerken; daughter, Staci (Rick) Klaassen of Little Rock, IA; son-in-law, Jeff Klaassen of Little Rock, IA; five grandchildren, Chelsie (Adam) Wiertzema, Krista (Andrew) Hoyme, Kory Klaassen, Shannon (Austin) Lloyd, Kassidy (Jesse) Kramer, and Brennan Klaassen; nine great-grandchildren and one on the way, Kennedy, Jayla, Masyn, Paisley, Madden, Maverick, Matthew, Mia, Greyson and Baby Kramer; three sisters, Elaine Bossard of Mesa, AZ, Karen (Gerald) Wiertsema of Ida Grove, IA, and Alvina (Gary) Kruger of Little Rock, IA; three sisters-in-law, Orlene (Conrad) Van Zee of Rock Valley, IA, Bonnie (Fred) Hilbrands of Sheldon, IA, and LeAnn Gerken of Little Rock, IA; three brothers-in-law, John (Beverly) Gerken of George, IA, Gregg (Dennise) Gerken of Little Rock, IA, and Eric Gerken of Centralia, MO; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Wilma Schoon; daughter, Kelli Jo Klaassen; parents-in-law, Ben and Elsie Gerken; two brothers-in-law, Fred Bossard, and Roger (Butch) Gerken; nephew, Robert Bossard; and two nieces, Rochelle Bruns and Jessica Gerken.

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