Jo Ann Kathryn Christensen

She was born in Beaumont, TX on June 3, 1937, to Martha Propp Jones and Joseph Daniel Jones. She was the oldest of three children. Her father worked for M. W. Kellogg Company, an engineering firm that built oil refineries around the world. By the time she was six she had already lived in 5 different cities with her family. The moves continued once a year, even living 15 months in Brazil before she moved to Casper, Wyoming for high school. She graduated from Natrona County High School in 1954.

In 1955, she married Kent T. Christensen in Casper at Grace Lutheran Church. She and Kent went to the University of Wyoming and then moved to Denver for Kent to attend medical school. Jo Ann finished her degree in Medical Technology at Denver University in 1958. Kent and Jo Ann then lived in several locations including Philadelphia, Cheyenne, and Minneapolis before moving to Casper to live and raise their four children.

Jo Ann was a devoted mother whose four children were always her priority. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her children. She was often seen volunteering at Crest Hill Elementary School. She was the President of the PTA from 1973-1975 and worked on the “hot dog” lunch program, and the throat culture program. She once taught a course on government for 5th and 6th graders with a close friend. These ladies got former Vice President Dick Cheney, who was from Wyoming, to visit their class to talk about the White House when he was the Chief of Staff for President Ford. Jo Ann was also active at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Casper. She served as a children’s choir director, Sunday school teacher, vacation bible school teacher, and within the women’s groups at the church. She also served as the President of the Wyoming Medical Auxiliary from 1976 to 1977 and on the Natrona County School Board from 1977 to 1983. Finally, she was an accomplished violinist, playing since a child, and was part of the Casper Symphony Orchestra for many years.

In 1986 after a divorce, Jo Ann moved to Colorado where she got a teaching certificate to teach high school science. She taught science for several years before going back to Cytotechnology with Unipath in Denver until she retired in 2005. In 2008, she moved to Arlington Heights, IL to live with her daughter and son-in-law. In 2021 she moved with them to Colorado Springs where she lived until her death. In her later years, she enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s school events, scrapbooking, bible study, and traveling. In her retirement, she traveled to Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Brazil, and all over the United States.

She is survived by a sister, Helen Andresen of Castle Pines, CO, her four children, Brad Christensen of Casper, WY, Brent (Karin) Christensen of Sherman, IL, Arik (Susan) Christensen of Casper, WY, and Laurel (Brian) Van Meveren of Colorado Springs, CO, nine grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, James D. Jones.

The family will hold a private memorial service in Casper at a later date. Interment will be in Highland Cemetery in Casper WY. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association would be appreciated.