Obituary for
JoAnn K. Hutsell (O'Connor)
JoAnn Hutsell’s name says it all- kind, devoted, hardworking, feisty, and a fighter to the end! JoAnn Katherine (O’Connor) Hutsell was born on October 22, 1932 in Kansas City, Missouri to Hubert Joseph O’Connor and Emma Louise Ruby. She grew up in Michigan and attended Ottowa Hills Highschool.
In 1950, Jo met her husband, Kay Hutsell, at Indiana University. They had two sons, Marty and Doug. Jo worked at Sears while the boys were growing up. In 1970, she went back to college at I.U. to finish her degree in Elementary Education. She and her son Marty were in college at the same time, Jo being a junior and Marty a sophomore. Marty could be seen with his friends saying hi to his mom on campus. After Jo graduated, she taught second grade at Rogers Elementary for 25 years until retirement. During this busy time in her life, JoAnn cherished being a caretaker to her mother and aunt for 12 ½ years.
One of Jo’s greatest loves was taking care of Kay’s Bloomington High School wrestlers before Dual Meet Weigh-ins. The wrestlers were invited over for home-cooked breakfasts of scrambled eggs, toast, and orange juice before every match.
Retirement was an exciting time in JoAnn’s life. She and Kay traveled to Georgia to spend much time with their sons and grandkids. They also went on many trips with lifelong friends. Jo was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Education Honorary, Monroe County Retired Teachers Association, I.S.T.A., and was on the board of directors at Windermere Woods Condo Association.
JoAnn is preceded in death by her parents. She will be sadly missed by her husband, Kay Hutsell, sons, Marty (Lisa) of Bloomington, Indiana and Doug (Phyllis) of Stockbridge, Georgia, her grandchildren, Joe (Nikki) of Ola, GA, John of Bloomington, IN, Chad of Stockbridge, GA, Blake (Helen) of Columbus, GA, great-grandchildren Addison, Victoria, Robby, and her beloved dog, Willy.
A reception will be held at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third St. in Bloomington on Saturday, April 16, from 3-5p.m. with a short service to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
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