Jonelle Lynn Greenhagen

Jonelle (aka Jo, aka Jo Momma) Lynn Greenhagen passed away peacefully, surrounded in love by her family & close friends on Tuesday May 9th, 2023, after a long, hard, & stubborn battle with COPD. Her family is deeply saddened by her early earthly departure but can breathe easier knowing she is no longer suffering.
Jo was born, the youngest of six children, on September 17th, 1962, in Brush Colorado to Paul & Eunice Gebauer. Jo experienced a terrible loss & heart ache when, at the age of 14, her older sister & best friend, Janet (just 17 years old herself) died in a terrible car accident. It was during this sad time that Jo discovered her passion & natural ability to write deep & moving poetry.
Shortly after graduating high school Jo became a mother, a title she proved was to be her calling & superpower. She was the mom that all her kids' peers in elementary school remembered & liked as she was always volunteering, going on field trips, bringing snacks to classroom parties & attending school events. Jo had a bright light & easy fun warmth about her that she loved to share & that people were drawn to & loved soaking up.
Jo was an amazing mother to her four lucky children every day of their lives as well as friends of theirs she loved as though they were her own. She may not have been the "cool" mom (a fact she was very proud of), but she was always the reliable, consistent, & supportive mom that loved all of her "kids" incessantly & never hesitated to tell it like it was in the most loving way possible. Hence the nickname Jo Momma, it would be impossible to count all of these "bonus" kids she gained over the years, but those that felt her momma's love will never forget that awesome feeling.
While her #1 job was being Jo Momma, Jo also gained a lot of friends while working throughout her life. When Rosa & Matt were young, she worked at Sunset Manor, then worked for the Brush School District as a paraprofessional once Cutter & Dylan had started school. For a majority of her working career, she worked for Eastern Colorado Services taking care of developmentally disabled adults, where she continued working until Dave got very sick, at which point in time Jo began caring for him full time & was so proud to be able to do so up until the day she passed away. Jo was sworn into office in May of 2020 as a Hillrose Board Trustee, a duty she enjoyed until she passed.
One thing is certain, Jo cared deeply for & about all those she loved, her love was overflowing & abundant & never run out. Her door was always open, if you needed a laugh or advice or just a cold beer that was the place to go. In Hillrose she and Dave had one of the most popular & happening driveways in town, & they quickly formed a bond & friendship with their neighbors (aka "the hood") that became her friends & has now grown over the years into family.
Jo leaves behind one brother Marvin Gebauer of Ft. Morgan CO, the love of her life, her husband, David Greenhagen of Hillrose CO, her children: Rosa (Phil) Riley & Matt Cooper of Brush CO, Cutter (Kara) Cooper & Dylan Cooper of Palm Coast FL. She will be forever remembered as Grandma Jo by her grandchildren that she loved fiercely: Angel, Alexis, Ashton, Aidan, Emma, Jacob, & Yaretzi. Jo will also be missed by numerous extended family members, past co-workers, friends, as well as her "hood" family.
Jo was greeted in Heaven by both of her parents; her sisters: Judy Gibson, Joyce Brooks, & Janet Gebauer; one brother Mark Gebauer; as well as her long-time best friend Lea Ann Homeburg.
Jo cared so deeply for the people around her & made an impact on many lives. She will be forever missed. A service will be held at Heer Mortuary in Brush on May 17th, 2023, at 10am with a luncheon to follow at 1pm at the Hillrose Town Hall, (side dishes are welcomed) & stories & memories of Jo can be shared amongst those she loved.
Jo's family would like to thank those that have reached out to offer their condolences & kind words, the Town of Hillrose for providing the reception space & main dish for the memorial luncheon, as well as all her close friends that are making food & helping get things together to celebrate this wonderful woman's life. A very special thanks to the amazing ICU nurses & doctors at NCMC that provided care, kindness, & comfort to Jo during the final weeks of her life, her family appreciates you more than they can say.