Josephine Schrimpf

Schrimpf, Josephine Born on July 19 in the same year that the first round-the-world flight was made, Josephine "Jo" Schrimpf (nee Plum) embarked in 1924 on her own remarkable journey through a life that was enlivened by her spirit of adventure, steadied by her undaunted determination, tempered by her sense of humor, leavened by her concern for others, warmed by her love of family and fueled by her strong Catholic faith. Jo passed away on September 1, 2015, at the age of 91 in Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center after a brief illness. True to her selfless nature, she had donated her body to the Medical College of Wisconsin. A Memorial Mass of celebration will be held Thursday, Oct. 22, with visitation from 3:30 PM until the 4:50 PM start of Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church, 9520 W. Forest Home Ave., Hales Corners. A dinner will follow. Before Jo's family emigrated to Milwaukee from Germany, her mother took the six children to sites in their native Aachen so that they would remember where they came from. Seven-year-old "Josie" sat in the cathedral on the marble throne of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, and looked out at part of the world she was leaving. She took some of it with her as she strived to learn perfect English and eagerly embraced new experiences in her adopted country. She loved "Aachener printen" cookies. She sewed clothing for herself and later for her children, from jumpers and shorts to prom and wedding dresses. She had a strong work ethic. She rode horses as a young adult. She loved to walk. She celebrated the feast days of the saints for whom family and friends were named. She loved to travel in the U.S. and abroad, once joyfully bursting into the song title, "On the Road Again" as the car headed toward Huntington, Indiana, where one of her siblings is a vowed religious with Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters. And she was, above all, deeply devoted to her Catholic faith. It was the foundation of her life, one from which she and her husband, Bob, raised five children after moving from Milwaukee to Racine early in their nearly 66-year marriage. They joined the Third Order of St. Francis together while dating, attended Mass and prayed rosaries together, and exchanged an engagement ring on Christmas Eve in front of the crèche at St. Leo's Church in Milwaukee, where they were married. They were active for many years at St. John Nepomuk Church in Racine and then attended St. Mary Church in Hales Corners after moving to the Clement Manor retirement center in Greenfield. She spent her time outside the home in Racine as a volunteer in the community, including the gift shop at St. Mary's Medical Center, the St. Vincent de Paul meal program, St. Catherine's High School and St. John Nepomuk Church. She later also volunteered for the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee and Clement Manor. She and Bob were significant supporters of Catholic education on all levels, including Marquette University. In addition to her husband, Jo is survived by a son, Tom (Jane) Schrimpf; four daughters, Catherine "Katie" (Tom) Heinen, Anne (Mike) Conway, Barbara (EG) Schramka, Mary Jo (Brent) Foye; and a sister, Sr. Ann Therese Plum. She is survived by 11 grandchildren: Caitlin (Nick Ditter) Heinen; Jill (Paul) Damora; Paul and Dave Schrimpf; James Conway; Terri, Pat and Beth Schramka; and John, Joe and Luke Foye. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jo's name to St. Catherine's High School or to the St. Vincent de Paul meal program in Racine, the Vision Forward Association in Milwaukee, the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, or the Cenacle Retreat Center in Chicago.