Jo Etta Kruger passed away peacefully Thursday, November 5th at Columbus Hospice. A memorial service will be held Sunday, November 8th at Striffler-Hamby in Phenix City. The family will receive friends and loved ones at 1pm, with service to follow.
Jo was born February 4th, 1935 in Lawton, Oklahoma to Earl (Buck) Russell Jones and Bessie May (Bynum). She graduated from Indiahoma High School (Indiahoma, OK) in 1953. After high school, she married and moved to Boston where she birthed her three children, Carl, Robin, and Annie. Jo and family moved to Columbus, GA in 1970 where she raised her family. Jo was an executive secretary for Columbus Mills, where she retired in 2000. In her free time she enjoyed playing poker, reading the newspaper or any book in general, watching westerns, and cooking. Jo’s signature dishes were “Granny’s Spaghetti” and “Granny’s Roast”. Jo was a devoted mother and grandmother. Her children describe her as caring, selfless, sassy, and loving. Her grandchild would just say “She was the best!”.
Jo will be remembered for her radiance, her beautiful smile, and loving hugs.
Jo was proceeded in death by her parents; her younger sister, Glenda; and her beloved son, Carl.
Jo is survived by her daughters, Robin Wheeler (Ron) of Salem, AL and Anne Wood (Bill) of Phenix City, AL; her three grandchildren, Corey Wood, Megan Palmer, and Sally Kruger; and lastly her three great-grandchildren, Savannah Leigh Harris, Ryker Wood, and Addison Russell Martin.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff and nurses of Phenix City Healthcare, for the unwavering love and support they showed their mother the last years of her life.