Jo Ann Bock

With love we mourn the death of Jo Ann Bock but also celebrate her life. Jo Ann (Burton) Bock, who passed away December 19, was born December 31, 1929 to Charles and Lela (Rauh) Burton. She and Howard Bock were married May 21, 1950 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Jo Ann had a lifelong love of books and writing. At Trinity Lutheran grade school, she earned her way by cleaning up after meals because her parents could not afford the cost. As a young teen she was a waitress, and at 17 she became a reporter for the Southeast Missourian where she wrote human interest features and obituaries. As was journalistic custom, she ended her stories with the symbol -30-, which signified the story had ended. She graduated from Cape Central high school in 1947, received a Bachelor of Science in education in 1964 majoring in English and journalism at Southeast Missouri State, and a Masters in English in 1973. Jo Ann also loved music. Her father used to play guitar and sing with her and her younger sister, Kitty, literally on his knee. Daddy Charlie died of TB in 1943. She had a beautiful singing voice and was often a soloist in the church choir. She sang with the Cape Choraliers, Sweet Adeline Girardot Rose chorus, and the choirs at Trinity Lutheran Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel. She was very active in many community organizations. She was a den mother with the Cub Scouts, a charter member of the Jaycee Wives, a charter member and officer of the Mental Health Council of Cape Girardeau County, was on the board of directors for Southeast Missouri Council of the Arts, organized and presided at a writing workshop for senior citizens (under joint sponsorship with the Missouri State Council of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts), a member of the Cape Writers Guild and served on the Saxony Lutheran High School advisory board in its first six years. After working at the Southeast Missourian, Jo Ann became a teacher and taught English, journalism and research paper writing at Cape Central High School for 26 years (1964-1990). She was also advisor to The Tiger school newspaper, the Girardot yearbook and The Central Light literary anthology. In her retirement years, she wrote a column in The Best Years magazine (Southeast Missourian) for over 20 years. She also wrote a book, Around the Town of Cape Girardeau in Eighty Years, which was published in 2013. Jo Ann was amazingly resilient and strong in dealing with her son Bradley’s severe mental illness for over 50 years in the family home. Jo Ann accomplished much in her 94 years. She would tell you her biggest accomplishment by far was being Mother to three sons and wife to her husband for 59 years until his passing in 2009. She is survived by sons Burton (Deborah) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Brian (Bonnie) of Sugar Land, Texas; Grandchildren Nathan (Janessa) Bock and their children Olivia, Cora and Genevieve; Amanda (Wes) Calhoun and their children Haylyn, Brenna, and Finley; Adam (fiancé Daoyen) Bock; step-grandchildren James (Jessica) Staufenbiel and their child Eris; and Megan Staufenbiel; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Richard “Dick” Ware; husband Howard Bock; son Bradley Bock; half-brother Richard “Dick” Cissell; sister Kathryn “Kitty” Jolls; and step-brother David Ware. No doubt there must be other moms as wonderful, but her sons and late husband would say they have not met any. Now it’s time for that ending symbol. -30- Goodbye, Mother Visitation will be 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 26, 2024 at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. A private funeral service will be Friday, December 27, 2024 with the Rev. Barry Pfanstiel officiating. Memorials may be given to Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel, Saxony Lutheran High School, or St. Judes. Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Ford & Sons Funeral Home - Mt. Auburn is in charge of arrangements.

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Jo Ann Bock

December 31, 1929 - December 19, 2024