BOONE, Iowa—Mary Jo Wickman, 67, of Boone, passed away Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. Following Mary Jo’s wishes, cremation has taken place.
Mary Jo was born October 24, 1957, in Boone, the daughter of Robert and Doris (DeMouth) Wickman. She attended Briar Cliff University, where she played softball and graduated with a degree in elementary education.
Mary Jo taught school in Templeton, Iowa, at the Catholic School, until she decided she wanted to do missionary work. She was a missionary in Tanzania, Africa, and then for a time in India. Mary Jo had many great experiences, one of which was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro while she was in Africa.
When Mary Jo returned to the United States, she decided it was time for a career change. She went to nursing school at Mercy and became a registered nurse. Mary Jo was a floor nurse in Kansas City, but moved back home to Boone, to take care of her dad. In Iowa, she worked in the surgical units of Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames and at the Boone County Hospital for a while. Mary Jo was then an office nurse and hospice nurse both at the Israel Family Hospice House. She also was a nurse at Northcrest Community in Ames.
After retiring from nursing, Mary Jo taught PE and reading at Sacred Heart School in Boone and was currently serving as their school nurse.
The most memorable talent that Mary Jo is known for, is her love of music. She sang mostly at church, at numerous weddings, funerals and with the choir. Mary Jo had a beautiful voice and sang from the heart. She was good at it and enjoyed going to local nursing homes with her nieces and nephews to entertain the residents.
Mary Jo was loved by all, for her fun quirky style. Her faith life was very important. Mary Jo loved these past few years at Sacred Heart School, one of her favorite things was to listen to the kids singing at all the school Masses.
She may not of had any children of her own, but she always supported all of her nieces and nephews, at their various events, whom she was affectionately known as Aunt JoJo.
Mary Jo loved and enjoyed all sports, especially the Chicago Cubs and anything Iowa Hawkeyes, but she like ISU too. She loved Seinfeld and old black and white TV shows, that she grew up with. Mary Jo leaves behind her two precious dogs, Wrigley and Stella.
She was preceded in death by her parents. Mary Jo is survived by her sister, Monica (Kevin) Pearson of Boone; three brothers, Mike (Dian) Wickman of Boone, Max (Carla) Wickman of Boone and Marty (Vicki) Wickman of Denver, CO; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and two great-great-nieces.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the Church of the Sacred Heart, 915 12th Street, in Boone, with a Rosary at 4:30 P.M. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M., on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the Church of the Sacred Heart. Inurnment will be held in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Boone.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Mary Jo’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.
Mary Jo Wickman, 67, Boone, Iowa
