Jo Ann Louise Kunde

Jo Ann Louise Kunde, age 85, of Preston, Iowa, passed away Friday, March 8, 2019 at home, surrounded by her loving family. A visitation will be held from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m., Sunday, March 10, 2019 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 11, 2019 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston. Burial will take place in Preston Cemetery.

Jo Ann was born on December 23, 1933, at the family home in Preston, the daughter of Albert and Louise (Thielen) McNeil. She attended Preston High School, graduating with the Class of 1951. On January 1, 1952, Jo Ann married Donald Kunde at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. Together they raised 10 children and celebrated 51 years of marriage until Donald’s death in 2003.

Jo Ann was a homemaker, and held various jobs outside the home, eventually turning her love of sewing and crafts into a business, ‘Jo Ann’s Creations’, and spent many a weekend at craft fairs. Jo Ann also enjoyed landscaping and being outdoors. The highlight and most important part of her life was her family and she loved the joy and laughter of family get-togethers.

Jo Ann will be dearly missed by her children, Marjorie (Robert) Donatsch of Maquoketa, son-in-law, Richard Venteicher of Edgewood, Donald (Kathy) Kunde of Maquoketa, Diane Giddings of Preston, Jane (Frank) Hastings of Maquoketa, Susan (Darwin) Bushaw of Edgewood, Ronald (Terri) Kunde of Preston, Bernice (Clay) Hamilton of Galena, Illinois, Dwaine (Jodi Feller) Kunde of Preston, and Annette (Tom Wagner) Kunde of Strawberry Point; 28 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Archie (Heidi) McNeil of Preston; a sister, Sandra (Carl) Despreaux of Manahawkin, New Jersey; and several nieces and nephews.

Jo Ann is preceded in death by her husband, Donald; a daughter, Donna Venteicher; a son-in-law, David Giddings; her parents, Albert and Louise; and an infant sister, Alberta McNeil.