Jo Simondsen

SAGOLA - Jo Anne Simondsen, 76, of Sagola, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2009, at the Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls. Jo Anne was born on June 7, 1933, in Minneapolis, and was the daughter of the late Wilfred B. and Lois L. (Peters) Gardepy. Jo Anne moved to Channing when she was five years-old and later to Iron Mountain where she graduated from high school in 1951. She married Verner H. Simondsen on Oct.13, 1951, at Trinity United Methodist Church. Jo Anne retired after 15 years with the state of Michigan as the food stamp coordinator for the local Department of Social Services. She has been an active member of Grace Presbyterian Church. Over the years, her church has been a very important part of her life and her church activities included serving as a church elder, deacon, board member, organist, choir member and Sunday school teacher. Along with the church, her life revolved around taking care of her family. Jo Anne is survived by her five children, Cindy (Bill) Magray of Green Bay, Wis., Lori (Jim) Miller of Sagola, Sally (Brad Mitchell) Burns of Gwinn, Retired MSgt. Bill (Lisa) Simondsen of New Baden, Ill. and Dan (Sally) Simondsen of Sagola; grandchildren, Tami (Craig) Balfanz of Green Bay, Teri (Jeff Haskins) Magray of Oconto Falls, Wis.., Beth (Jay) Richards of Green Bay, Betsy (Stephen) Simkovski of LaPorte, Ind., Christy (Andy) Church of Mantow, Mich., Jillian (Rusty) Steinbrecher of Felch, Elliott Burns of Sagola, Chad Simondsen of New Baden, Ill., Amy (Brock Chiamulera) Simondsen of Sagola and Adam Simondsen of Sagola; great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Dawson Balfanz and Matthew and Dalaney Steinbrecher. She was preceded in death by her husband, Verner on Feb. 27, 2005; an infant son, David in 1960; and a brother, Richard and sister-in-law, Joyce Gardepy. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday at Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola. Funeral services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at the church. Rev. David Anderson will officiate. Burial will be in Channing Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Jo Anne Simondsen online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

Jo Simondsen

June 13, 1933 - June 13, 2009