Mary Jo Zeimet

Mary Jo Zeimet, 72, died May 15, 2023. She was born August 20, 1950, in Hot Springs, South Dakota, to the late Peter William Zeimet and AraBelle June Zeimet (nee Fuller).

Jo attended schools in Edgemont, SD before moving on to Colorado State University where she received her degree in music. After teaching music in Longmont, CO schools and playing violin professionally, she switched directions and went off to law school at University of Colorado, pursuing a career in human resources and labor relations. Jo worked in the public sector for the City of Boulder (CO), City of Bellevue (WA) and City of Bellingham (WA) as well as stints in various private sector companies. Ultimately her goal was to ensure that employees were always treated fairly and their workplace was a positive place. In retirement, Morning Glory Farm became her passion, raising dairy goats and growing a massive amount of food.

In Jo's own words: "I have rejected the analytical framework of "fighting cancer." We plan on living our lives to the very fullest for however long the Universe grants. I love my life, and I accept the reality cancer, it shall not be the fabric of my existence. I want a life filled with the world's best spouse, family and friends, dogs, gardening, camping, music, laughter, and traveling the Great American West. I'd like some French pastry with morning tea, sparkling lights, rose petals and good healthy soil. There are still so many things I want to do - train my dog, learn the Bach solo sonatas, how to start roses on their own roots, and visit all the old parks and all the new ones. I am grateful for every moment of every day." She would be terribly annoyed about this obituary because she didn't like being the center of attention, but she was a remarkable human and one who was loved deeply.

Jo was wickedly smart, funny, irreverent, quirky, and unfailingly kind. She had her family's storytelling genes and could make a story about the winter kale harvest riveting. Jo always wanted to explore new places, find the best bookstore or caf?. discover some new park for camping or a new biking route. She loved to learn, attending conferences, webinars, reading, and learning new stuff to the end. Her latest was training her lovely Capri to be her service dog. She loved her dogs, and those who passed before were waiting for her to cross the rainbow bridge.

Jo wanted to make the world a better place, whether in her professional career to create positive workplaces, planting a pollinator garden, sharing music, taking care of animals, growing food for the food bank, or helping someone in need.

Jo is survived by her wife, Sue Anderson, her actual nieces Danielle Oser (nee Beck), Mindy Krall-Gammage (nee Beck), her niece by choice, Anna Hughes Schneller and dear friend Sue Hughes along with many other friends who became her family. Her sister Lani Beck (nee Solomon) and brother Peter Paul Zeimet preceded her in death.

Her life will be celebrated on Sunday, August 20, from 2-5 p.m. at Ollin Farms in Longmont, Colorado. As we consider how short life really is, hug your loved ones close because we never know. We are grateful for the time we got to be in her presence. Our bright light has become a shooting star.

In lieu of flowers, "do a kindness for someone else, cast a pearl in another's pond, or give a stranger a big beautiful smile" for her. Or consider a donation to the People and Pollinators Action Network (peopleandpollinators.org)