Jo Beer

JO BEER Iowa City Jean Josephine Beer, 95, of Iowa City, passed away Saturday, April 10, 2021, at Atrium Village in Hills following a long illness. Jean Josephine Beer was born March 26, 1926, in a farmhouse near Lowden, Iowa, to Henry and Emma Mente. She attended a rural school near Lowden until the family moved to a farm in Tipton, where she completed high school. She graduated from Tipton High School and attended the University of Iowa. It was there that she met Martin Beer. It was love at first sight! They eloped on March 5, 1948, and the love affair lasted for over 74 years. During this time they had four children; Ted, Michael (died at birth) and the twins, Connie and Cyndy. Jo was active in 4-H throughout her youth and served in various office positions in the organization. She also showed sheep and baby beef at the county fair. In 1947, her last year with 4-H, she won the Grand Champion Baby Beef for Cedar County. Jo also had a love for flowers. She was an active gardener her entire life. She belonged to the Four Seasons Garden Club and Eastern Iowa Orchid Society as a member. Jo was an active charter member at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and she spent many hours there beautifying its landscape and the church property. Jo had an untouchable work ethic that she taught her children and grandchildren. She spent many hours teaching them numerous life lessons in her greenhouse and gardens at home. The beauty she instilled in her gardening was a direct reflection of her own personal beauty, inside and out. Jo was a loving and caring mother, wife and grandmother. She lovingly cared for her children and raised them that way. She loved all of her relatives, and showed great love for her brothers, sisters, grandchildren and eight great-grandsons. Jo will be greatly missed by her husband, Martin; and her son, Theodore. She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Martin; son, Ted; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandsons; her sister, Geraldine Reeve; her sister-in-law, Sylvia Talbee; and sister-in-law, Lois Donnavent. She was preceded in death by her daughters, Connie and Cyndy; brother, Kenneth Mente; sister, Genevieve Meier; brother-in-law, Herbert Beer; and sisters-in-law, Helen Sandersfeld, Paula Sandersfeld, Esther Sandersfeld and Norma Mollison. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Iowa City. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery also in Iowa City. A celebration of Jo's life will follow with a luncheon at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be directed to Iowa City Hospice or Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Social distancing guidelines are in place and masks are required. Thank you. The family would like to give thanks to Atrium Village for their fantastic and diligent care of an amazing lady. Thoughts may be shared with the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.