Jo Ann Penner

Jo Ann Penner was born on March 27, 1935, in Junction City, Kansas, and passed away peacefully in her sleep Sunday, October 11, 2026, in Cape Coral. We find comfort in knowing that she went so peacefully. Her life was a precious gift, and the love and beautiful memories she shared will be treasured in our hearts forever.

Jo Ann was the daughter of Betty Butler, who passed away in 1974. She was lovingly raised by her Aunt Hazel and Uncle Paul Range alongside Floyd, whom she knew as a brother. Floyd preceded her in death and is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn. Jo Ann also had two sisters, Shirley and Grace, and was preceded in death by Grace. The family who surrounded her in those early years remained an important part of her story and helped shape the woman we knew and loved.

Jo Ann married Henry E. Penner Jr., and together they built a life centered on love, hard work, and family. Henry preceded her in death in August 2002, but the life they shared and the memories they made together always remained close to her heart. Their greatest joy was the family they built: their sons, Larry and Rick; their daughters-in-law, Cathy and Zenda; their grandchildren, Jeff (Tiffany), Jared (Kassandra), Jesse, and Courtney (David); and their six great-grandchildren, Jonas, Joseph, Isabella, Jada, Noah, and Juliana. She was proud of each of them, and they always knew how deeply they were loved. Jo Ann also shared a special bond with her niece, Lue, and their morning coffee calls were a sweet and cherished part of their days. Her nephew Bob and his wife, Charlotte, held an equally special place in her heart, and the loving relationship they shared brought her great comfort and joy.

After completing her education, Jo Ann became an LPN, a calling that reflected the care and compassion she brought to others. She and Henry later owned several Dairy Queen locations in Wichita and Harrington, Kansas, working side by side as they built a life for their family. When their oldest son moved to Florida, Jo Ann and Henry followed in April 1985 and made their home in Port Charlotte. There, Jo Ann worked as a waitress at Fisherman’s Wharf, where many people came to know her warm and friendly spirit. When their youngest son moved his family to Florida in the early 1990s, having everyone closer together brought her great happiness. In her younger years, Jo Ann loved to skate, and she and Henry shared many happy times dancing together. Even after Henry’s passing, she continued to enjoy dancing with her friends. We will always smile when we remember that joyful and lively part of her.

Above all, Jo Ann loved her family, and we always knew how much we meant to her. Her love was found in the familiar, everyday ways she cared for us and in the place each of us held in her life. She also adored the dogs who shared her home, especially Maggie Mae, who held an extra-special place in her heart. As we say goodbye, we find peace in picturing Jo Ann arriving at the pearly gates, welcomed into the arms of Henry, her sister Grace, Floyd, Aunt Hazel and Uncle Paul, and the other beloved family members who went before her—with Maggie Mae faithfully waiting there too. We hope they are all together again, surrounded by the love of home. We will miss Jo Ann more than words can express, but we will continue to find her in the stories we tell, the memories we treasure, and the love she left within our family. Her beloved sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Lue, nieces, nephews, and all who loved her will carry her with them always.