Josephine Aileen Fennema

Born in Hastings, Oklahoma to Willie Mae Pruitt (1892-1979) and Thomas Arthur Ray (1892-1956). Willie Mae’s father, Thomas Jefferson Pruitt (1858-1936), lends some credence to her dubious claim of being direct descendants to Thomas Jefferson! She joins her sibling’s Lena Strickland, Clytee Burchfield, Pauline Blankenship and brothers Leonard and Don Ray.

She grew up on a small farm along the banks of the Red River in Oklahoma. They lived in a little wooden house with the slamming screen door on a dusty dirt road filled with chickens soon to be dinner, just across from the crops they grew. She would fondly remember the fresh peaches off the trees and how she loved riding her horse to school or get the mail. She really loved that horse!

Apparently, she was more than a handful and not meant to be a farmer. When she was 17 her father sent her to San Diego to stay with her sister Clytie and her husband Slim—a move that would change the course of her life forever. On August 15, 1945, she walked out of a theater right into the jubilant celebrations of V-J Day. She caught the eye of Russell Fennema, a young Marine recovering from war wounds. It truly was love at first sight, at least for Russell. He followed her on the bus to her home, then talked for hours in a phone booth, as if time itself had stopped just for them.

Though life took them briefly in different directions—Russell back to Chicago, Jo to San Antonio with her sister Pauline and Roy Blankenship —their love could not be denied. The love letters she kept provide a remarkable picture of how different life was. They eloped in Seguin, TX, beginning a lifelong journey together that brought them back to Chicago and Russell’s family. She fondly remembered how the Italian butchers on their street took her under their wings and taught her how to cook. They did forget to tell her a small duck would not feed the entire Fennema family on the first Thanksgiving dinner she made. They did, however, teach her how to make her famous Italian sausage sandwiches! Soon they started their family when Russell Jr. was born, then life led them to Dallas where sons Richard and Sean arrived.

Jo was a dental office manager for much of life, passing down her strong work ethic to her children and grandchildren. Grandkids were truly the light of her life; she would drop everything to help when asked. She had a quiet strength and endless love, fearless and independent. Shortly after Russ died she took in Tjitske Ypma, a 17 year old exchange student from Holland that was too much for the other family to handle! Tjitske was a blessing, inviting Jo to Holland to meet her family, a trip she never forgot. In her 70’s she decided to sell everything and move back to San Diego! She truly carried the spirit of the land where she was raised—independent and resilient. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her sons Russell Earl Jr. and his wife Lucy, of Albuquerque, NM, Richard Edward and wife Maria of Dallas, TX, and Sean Arthur Nicholas and wife Robin of Colleyville, TX. Grandchildren include Trey and Matt Fennema; Leah, Austin and Nicholas Fennema; and Ryan Hubbard, Chip Fennema, Maddie Rodriguez, Kelsie Dancer and Cole Fennema. Great-grandchildren include Connor and Aiden Fennema, Michael, Ava and Mia Fennema, Jack Fennema with Poppy on the way. Her loving family will forever cherish the memories of her toughness, warmth, kindness, and the incredible stories of her life.

A private service will be held to honor her memory on Thursday, February 13th, 2025 at J.E. Foust & Son in Grapevine, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Irving, TX.

May she rest in peace, reunited with her beloved once more.