Melba J. "Jo" Wickert

Melba Joann "Jo" Wickert, 89, of Memphis died October 29, 2025 at the Putnam County Care Center in Unionville, MO.

She was born May 21, 1936, to Joseph William Tiemann and Viola Frederika Amelia (Hoehne) Tiemann and raised in LaGrange. She graduated from LaGrange High School in 1954. Jo then attended and graduated from Culver Stockton College in Canton in 1958 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. She was a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority, serving as president.

Jo taught PE and coached for five years in Meredosia. She met and began dating another teacher, Loren Wickert. They married on May 21, 1960 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in LaGrange. He preceded her in death on March 12, 2025.

Their son Scott was born in 1963. Two years later Loren bought an insurance agency in Memphis, MO and they moved there. Their daughter, Angie, was born in 1970.

Jo was involved with their church, St. Paul Lutheran, teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for over 25 years. She also delivered Meals on Wheels every Thursday for 20 years and volunteered for several years through the Ministerial Alliance at the local Food Pantry and the Clothes Closet

You would often see them attending softball, football, basketball and baseball games for all their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, venturing as far as Alabama, Florida, and Georgia to watch them compete. She and Loren loved to travel and drove to nearly every state over the last 40 years.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of nearly 65 years and her parents.

Jo is survived by her son, Scott Wickert of Memphis; her daughter, Angie (Wickert) Dunn and husband, Kris, of Birmingham, AL; her sister, Nancy Kay (Bob) Jones of Washington, MO; four grandchildren: Matt (Kara) Wickert of Memphis, Kellyn (Blaine) Robinson of Unionville, Drew (Riley) Dunn of Rogers, AK, and Brady Dunn of Auburn, AL; eight great- grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Memphis with burial in the Memphis Cemetery. Visitation is prior to the service from 12-1 p.m., at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to St. Paul Lutheran Church or the Memphis Theater and can be left at or mailed to the Gerth Funeral Service, 115 S. Main St., Memphis, MO 63555.

Condolences may be sent to the Wickert family by signing the online guestbook at gerthfuneralservice.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Gerth Funeral Service in Memphis.