Jo Ann Vanhaelst

Jo Ann VanHaelst, age 66 of Savanna, Illinois died Thursday, April 16, 2015 at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. noon, Friday, April 24, 2015 at Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. Burial will take place in Spring Lake Cemetery, Savanna. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Friday, April 24, 2015 at Law-Jones Funeral Home.
Jo Ann was born February 2, 1949, the daughter of Clarence A. and Helen (Blasdel) Potter in Central City, Marion County, Illinois. She married David Lee VanHaelst on April 18, 1970 in Central City, Illinois. David died February 26, 2013.
Jo Ann co-owned VBS, Inc. for 45 years until her retirement in 2014. She was a member of the Savanna, Illinois Moose Lodge and enjoyed gardening, bingo, cooking and the occasional scratch-off ticket. Jo Ann was Captain of Team Iris for Relay for Life. Her greatest joys in life came from being a wife, mother, grandmother and spending time with her family.
Jo Ann will be dearly missed by her son, David (Emilie) VanHaelst, Jr. of Steward, Illinois; two daughters, Dawnette (Ronald) Cole and Diana (Nick) Eppenstein of Savanna; seven grandchildren, Kycarah and Matthew VanHaelst, Taylor and Tygan Cole, Aaron and Madison Eppenstein, and Allison VanHaelst; one great granddaughter; five brothers, Richard (Joyce) Potter, Tommy Potter, Michael Potter, Philip (Nancy) Potter and Douglas (Dana) Potter, all of Illinois; five sisters, Patty Kufrin of Savanna, Nancy Clemets, Alice Potter of Illinois, Elizabeth Sue Ward, and Rebecca Kramer, both of Florida; 16 nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews. She is preceded by her husband of 42 years, David; one sister Debra Webb, and her parents, Clarence and Helen.