Jo Steele, age 84, passed away surrounded by her family at the family farm on January 19, 2023. Luella JoAnne (Jo) Cron was born on August 5, 1938 to William “Bill” A. and Leona M. (Kirchner) Cron. Jo was united in marriage to Roger Steele on August 11, 1960, at the Anita United Methodist Church. They resided south of Anita for 60+ years on the Steele Family Farm.
Jo was a lifelong member of the Anita United Methodist Church. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking, and entertaining family and friends. Later in life, she enjoyed meeting with friends in her local community and sewing dresses for girls in Africa. Every year Jo and Roger attended and camped at the Iowa State Fair and spent many weekends camping at Lake Anita. They also enjoyed traveling and going on cruises with family and friends. Jo cherished her family and was especially proud of her grandchildren. She was recently promoted to great-grandma twice in the past 3 months.
She is proceeded in death by her husband Roger; her parents William and Leona Cron; her stepfather George Voiles; her sister Lowene Dobernecker and her daughter-in-law Lynette Steele.
She is survived by her brother Lloyd Cron; son Doug (Esther) Steele; daughter Teri (Jerry) King; grandchildren Erin (Mark) Blake, Tyler (Miriam) Steele, and Cody (Mara) West and two great-granddaughters Harper Blake and Joie West.
A memorial service will take place at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, January 23, 2023, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA, with Rev. Lauri Boysen officiating. The service will be live-streamed & recorded and may be located below Jo’s obituary. A luncheon will be held following the service in the fellowship hall of the church. Interment will be held at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, IA.
Public visitation will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA.
The family request memorial contributions to be made out to the Anita United Methodist Church or the Iowa State Fair and may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
