Jo Ann Dewalt

Jo Ann Brannon Dewalt, 77, of Mishicot, WI, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 17, 2026, surrounded by family.

Jo Ann was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Henry William and Josephine (Chastain) Brannon on December 29, 1948. She grew up in Arabi, Louisiana, with her two younger siblings, Billy and Debbie, and graduated from Chalmotte HIgh School in 1966. She transitioned into the workforce initially as a secretary for the FBI, and later worked for J.Ray McDermott Engineering in New Orleans. It was there that she met and fell in love with Kenneth Mahone “Ken” Dewalt, a field engineer also working at McDermott at that time. They were married on April 5, 1969, and moved to Malmstrom AIr Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, where she took great pride in being an Air Force military wife. Their first child was born there. After Ken completed his military service, the family returned to Louisiana where they welcomed three more children. Jo Ann spent the better part of the next two decades raising children and was readily available for all events that the children were involved in.

In 1993, the family relocated to Katy, Texas. With her children mostly grown, she found great joy in quilting, sewing and reading, and became active in many quilting groups. She also loved spending time at their vacation home that she and Ken had built in West Yellowstone, Montana. Following Ken’s retirement, they made a final location change to Mishicot, WI, where they could enjoy a less hectic, cooler environment and could spend more time with family. Quilting and sewing continued to bring her enjoyment, but nothing brought her more joy than being a grandmother – known lovingly as “Gramma” or “Gramma Texas.” Her nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren were her pride and joy, and she was eagerly anticipating the arrival of another great-grandchild later this year.

Jo Ann is survived by her husband, Kenneth; her four children: Jennifer (Darrel) Chandler, Brad (Ling) Dewalt, Laurel (Chad) Stodola and Kendra (Paul) Bennett; her grandchildren: Katelynn (Austyn) Prince, Wade, Nathan, Summer, Andrew, Keira, Kenna, Ella, and Luke; her great-grandchildren: Ryan, Kennedy and Avalynn; her siblings: Henry William “Billy” Brannon, Jr. and Deborah Kovach; and nieces and nephews: Jeffrey (Jeanne) Brannon, Michelle (Nick) Fazzio and Jeremy (Celia) Kovach.

She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Henry and Josephine Brannon, brother-in-law, Antone “Tony” Kovach, and sister-in-law, Pamela Brannon.

A celebration of Jo Ann’s life will be held in a private family gathering at a later date.

The family would like to thank Dr. Nirav Patel and the staff and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center and Aurora Baycare Hospital in Green Bay, WI, for their care and compassion.