Jo Ann Amerine

Jo Ann Amerine, age 80, of Urbana passed away after a courageous battle with leukemia surrounded by her loving family at 10:53 a.m. on Friday, June 7, 2013 at Springfield Regional Medical Center. Born on September 20, 1932 in Urbana, Ohio, Jo Ann was the daughter of Macy and Letha (Ropp) Luellen. She married Kenneth Jay Amerine on July 1, 1955 and they enjoyed a fifty-eight year marriage that fulfilled their wedding vows of “until death do us part.” Jo Ann was the loving mother to Brenda (Dean) Williams of Urbana and Terry (Diana) Amerine of Overland Park, Kansas, and three grandsons, Mike Grumble, Erich and Trent Amerine. She was also a loving aunt to numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by her sister, Betty (Tom) Leopard of Urbana. In addition to her parents, Jo Ann was preceded in death by her brother, James, and sister, Mae Hecker. Jo Ann graduated from Urbana High School in 1951 and worked at Grimes Manufacturing until the birth of her first child in 1959. She is remembered as a loving, caring woman who always put the needs and concerns of others ahead of her own. Even as she battled leukemia in the final days of her life, she was more concerned about the health of her family and being a gracious host to her visitors at the hospital than her own well-being. Her laugh, smile and genuine warmth and strong independent streak and candor will be greatly missed by her family, friends and neighbors. Visitation will be held in WALTER & SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 642 S. Main St., Urbana on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 from 5-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Walter & Smith on Wednesday, June 12 at 10 a.m. with burial to follow in Oak Dale Cemetery, Urbana. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Cancer Association of Champaign County, P.O. Box 38125, Urbana, OH 43078, in gratitude for their support during her battle. Condolences may be expressed to Jo Ann’s family at www.walterfunerals.com.