G. R. "Jo" Johannesen

Jo was born September 21, 1946 to Tony and Joyce Johannesen and passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2019. Jo grew up on the south side of Des Moines and graduated from Tech High. He served 4 years in the Navy. He was united in marriage to Sharon “Sheri” Chapman on December 23rd, 1965 and together they celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2015, 1 year before Sheri passed away. Together they had 2 daughters Tracy (Monte) Linn of Des Moines and Audrey (Spence) VerMeer of Pella, along with their 2 grandchildren Lily and D.J.

Jo and Sheri lived the majority of their married life on the south side of Des Moines and enjoyed going to the State Fair. They always spent at least 1 day each year from opening to closing and always looked forward to this. Jo worked most of his adult life at USPS as a mail handler or a “gorilla” as he called it. Jo loved to hunt anything and went on several hunting and fishing trips with his dad and brothers.

After the girls moved out, Jo and Sheri started going to their “trout stream” in Lansing, Iowa. They started out sleeping in their car, moved on to tents, and graduated to a camper. Jo was able to go to the trout stream last year for 1 final time with his nephew Jason.

Jo’s greatest fear was realized when Sheri was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. They continued to camp and enjoy life until Jo was no longer able to keep Sheri home. He struggled with having to have her live away at Senior Suites in Urbandale and visited her as often as he could and took her on trips to family functions as long as she was able to go. Jo was with Sheri when she passed away on May 28th, 2016 at Kavanagh House. Jo spent the years following Sheri’s death always wondering if he had done enough for her.

Jo was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Joyce and his wife, Sheri. He is survived by his daughters, Tracy (Monte) Linn of Des Moines, Audrey (Spence) VerMeer of Pella; the loves of his life granddaughter, Lily and grandson, D. J.; brothers, Dennis (Donna) of New Berlin, Wisc., Daniel of Des Moines, sister, Toni (Brian) Hammond of Ankeny; as well as multiple nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, August 12th at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. A celebration of Jo’s life will begin at 1 p.m., Tuesday, August 13th, also at the funeral home, with burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

The family requests memorial contributions be directed to the family. Condolences messages may be left at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Print