Memorial Services will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 1:00 pm at McLarens Resthaven Chapel, 801 19th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265. There will be a one-hour visitation beginning at Noon before the service at the funeral home. Private Family Burial of Ashes will be held at Jordan Cemetery.
Mary Jo was born on June 30, 1940, to Thomas Howard and Frances Emily (Bowen) Walker in West Des Moines, Iowa. She graduated from North High School in 1959, in Des Moines. She was united in marriage to William Francis Dunn in October of 1957. There were four children to the union, Debra, Pamela, Jeffrey and Lisa. The couple later divorced. Mary Jo was united in marriage to Glen Vanlandingham on February 14, 2002, at The Unity Temple in Kansas City, MO.
Mary Jo was a homemaker for her family until her family was older and in school. She then worked for the West Des Moines School District as a Kitchen Manager. Later, Mary Jo was a phone operator at Northwestern Bell Telephone. Finally, she was a Service Representative for AT&T and retired in 2000. Mary Jo loved to travel with Glen, her family and friends. She went on 28 cruises and loved spending time in Rocky Mountain National Park. Glen and Mary Jo bought an RV and travelled all over the United States and Canada for the last twenty years. MJ loved to cook and bake for everyone she knew. She was known for her chocolate covered peanut butter balls. Mary Jo was the matriarch of her family, she dearly loved making memories with them and being there for them throughout the years.
Mary Jo is survived by her husband, Glen Vanlandingham; five children, Debra (Doug) Thompson, Pamela (Tim) Negrete, Jeffrey (Julie) Dunn, Lisa Dunn and Casey Vanlandingham; eight grandchildren, Brandon (Susan) Thompson, Sean Thompson, Timmy (Joe) Nixon-Negrete, Nicholas Negrete (Claire Herritz), Ericka (Logan) Peters, Abigayle Dunn, Allyson Dunn and Isabel McDanel; four great grandchildren, Haylie, Camden, Miles, and Ronzo; sister-in-law, Kaylyn Walker and cousin, Kerry Bowen. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, John Walker and aunt, Mary Hopp.
Memorials may be directed to Suncrest Hospice, 5959 Village View Dr #100, West Des Moines, IA 50266 in loving memory of Mary Jo.
