Jo Ann Kroenke, 86, of Berryton, Kansas, died at 5:35 p.m. Friday, October 20, 2023 at her daughter's residence in Berryton.
Jo Ann was born June 24, 1937 in Alma, Kansas, a daughter of Herman J. and Edith Catherine (Brower) Hafenstein. She grew up between Alma, Topeka, and Girard, and she graduated from Girard High School in Girard.
She married Melvin Arthur Kroenke on November 6, 1955 in Hepler, Kansas. Melvin preceded her in death on March 22, 2017.
Jo Ann worked as a correctional officer for the state of Kansas before retiring in 1988. She and Melvin lived in Hepler and Girard before moving to Lansing in 1965. They moved to Topeka in 1976 and Girard in 1988 before returning to Topeka in 2004.
Jo Ann was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka and Happy Stitchers Club in Girard.
Survivors include her sons, Paul Kroenke of Holton, Kansas, David Kroenke, and his wife, Kathleen, of Tecumseh, Kansas, and Marlin Kroenke, and his wife, Genevieve, of Springfield, Missouri; her daughter, Catherine Atchison, and her husband, Russell, of Berryton; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; her brother, Herman J. Hafenstein, and his wife, Sondra, of Topeka; her sister, Marge Tomko of Centennial, Colorado; numerous nieces and nephew; and her dog, Andy.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Melvin Kroenke; her son, Gerald Kroenke; her daughters-in-law, Susan Kroenke and Denise Kroenke; her sisters, Mary Lesline and Betty Hughes.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m., Friday at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard with Jo Ann's son, Marlin Kroenke, officiating. Burial will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery near Hepler.
The family will receive friends from Noon until service time on Friday. Friends may call after 2:00 p.m., Thursday at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard.
Memorials are suggested to the Happy Stitchers Club for summer camps and Immanuel Luteran Church, and these may be left at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home. 518 W St. John, Box 258, Girard, 66743.
