Jo Dee Van Kooten

Oskaloosa - Jo Dee Van Kooten, 63, of Oskaloosa, passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
Jo Dee was born on September 23, 1962, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Marjorie (Bowers) McClun. She graduated from Oskaloosa High School with the Class of 1981. On August 6, 1982, she was united in marriage to Loren Van Kooten at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.
Jo Dee completed beauty school in Ottumwa and worked as a hairdresser in Oskaloosa for a short time. She then chose to step away from working outside the home to care for her family. Once her daughters were older, she began working at the YMCA providing daycare. While working, she attended evening classes at Indian Hills Community College to pursue her calling in nursing. In 1997, she completed her education and became a Registered Nurse.
Jo Dee's nursing career included opening her own home health care business, Quality Care Services, and working at various care facilities throughout the area, including Iowa Hospice, Care Initiatives, and most recently The Cottages in Pella.
Jo Dee was a caregiver at heart. First and foremost, she cared deeply for her family, taking every opportunity to spend time with her children and grandchildren. She wanted each of them to feel special and made every event memorable, often going "over the top" with decorating and gift-giving. She also devoted herself fully to her patients, working diligently to ensure they felt loved, respected, and properly cared for. In addition, Jo Dee's love for animals was well known-especially her love of horses and over the years she rescued many, bringing home stray cats, dogs, and even llamas!
She was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. Jo Dee was not one to sit still; she loved to travel and always had an adventure planned for Loren and the family. She also volunteered her time with Birthright and Make-A-Wish over the years.
Jo Dee is survived by her husband, Loren Van Kooten of Oskaloosa; three daughters and their husbands, Kourtni and Tyler Shelquist of Oskaloosa, Kelsey and Brian Thomas of Delta, and Kaleigh and Travis Townsend of Monroe; five grandchildren, Jace, Grady, Hattie Shelquist, Hayes Townsend, and Clay Thomas; three brothers, John (Bonnie) McClun of Lititz, Pennsylvania, Gary (Deb) McClun of Fremont, and Nick McClun of Kansas City, Missouri; her mother-in-law, Mary Ann Van Kooten of Oskaloosa; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, George England; her brother, Jeff McClun; and her father-in-law, Cornelius Van Kooten.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, with Reverend Jonathan Spronk officiating. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m. Thursday in the fellowship hall of the church. Burial will take place at Forest Cemetery.
Visitation will begin Wednesday at noon at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. The family will greet friends and relatives from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the church. Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Helen Rossi Volunteer House or Mahaska Health Serenity House.