Joann Jennings (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Joann (Burns) Jennings was born May 30, 1936 in Eldridge, Missouri to Joseph and Joyce Burns. She passed away in Mercy Hospital in Lebanon, Missouri on Sunday, May 26, 2024. At the time of her passing, she was four days away of turning eighty-eight.
Joann was raised with eleven siblings and attended Marple School in Eldridge. She enjoyed growing up in a large family.
On February 2, 1955, Joann was united in marriage to John William Jennings. They resided in Missouri, but eventually relocated to Green Rock, Illinois and had five children, Sheilah, Terri, Denise and Danny (twins) and Lisa. They were Illinois residents until 1972 before returning to Lebanon, Missouri.
She loved attending church at Myetta Baptist Church and later at Wood Street Baptist Church where she loved to sing hymns and hear the gospel proclaimed. She was a selfless soul who always put others first. She always had a bright smile and cheerful way with everyone. She never met a stranger. Her faith in the Lord was strong and the power of the Holy Spirit encompassed everything she did.
Joann faced many sorrows and trials during her life. She and her husband Johnny lost their only son, Danny, on January 9, 1985. They also faced the passing of their first born grandchild, Robin Myers-Ling and a great-grandchild, Jayden Ling, in a tragic house fire in 2007. She also endured the passing of a grandson, Daniel Super in 2017. Her husband, Johnny, passed away July 10, 2019 and their oldest daughter, Sheilah Zuroweste, passed away on May 25, 2023. Joann also was preceded in death by two siblings, George Burns and Irvin Burns. Through all the losses of those she loved dearly, Joann remained positive, kind and faithful to her Lord and Savior.
She is survived by her children, Terri Van Klavern and her husband Scott Ritchie of Lake Ozark, Missouri, Denise Super of Lake Ozark, Missouri, and Lisa Schlottman and her husband Doug of Nixa, Missouri; eleven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren; her siblings, Peggy Arnold, Betty Guy, Thelma Anderson and Carol Sauerbrie, all of Lebanon, Missouri, Shirley Crain of Macks Creek, Missouri, Leon Burns of Decaturville, Missouri, Beverly Bullock of Linn Creek, Missouri, Vickie Hogeland of Branson, Missouri and Linda Swift of Camdenton, Missouri; and other relatives and friends.
After the children were grown, Joann decided to enter the workforce and was an inspector for H.D. Lee for over ten years. She enjoyed her employment there and made many friends.
Joann was a kind, compassionate woman and much beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She always sacrificed to help everyone in the family and had a heart of gold.
She was a Sunday School teacher and helped in Vacation Bible School. She was active at the Pregnancy Support Center and enjoyed sharing her love for Jesus with others.
Joann loved her family fiercely. She was an advocate for anyone in need and loved animals. She would often keep dog and cat food in her car so she could feed any animal that looked hungry.
Words cannot express the loss her family feels at this time. They are comforted in the fact that Joann is with her Lord and Savior, reunited with all her loved ones who went on before, and walking through the garden with Jesus.
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