Jo Ann Sturm

Jo Ann Sturm, 83, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on September 25, 2017. The visitation will be at 10:00 A.M. with the funeral service to follow at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, October 2, 2017 at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society 6113 Blue Ridge Blvd. Raytown, Missouri, 64133. Burial will follow at Mount Moriah Cemetery.

Born May 25th, 1934, in a small farmhouse in Barnard, Missouri, she was the daughter of the late Dorman Cotter and Bessie Gilbert Cotter.

Jo Ann is survived by her husband of 64 years, Edwin Sturm; one daughter, Cindy Sturm of Overland Park, Kansas; one son, Jim Sturm and his wife Cathy of Kansas City, Missouri; and two grandchildren, Peregrine and Cooper.

In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, JoAnn was a nature-lover who enjoyed gardens, feeding wild birds, and raising butterflies.  She cared deeply for all animals, rescuing many dogs throughout her lifetime. JoAnn was an avid painter, whose creativity was also apparent whenever she took pen to paper.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.

As you release this butterfly
in honor of me,
know that I’m with you and
will always be.
Hold a hand, say a prayer,
close your eyes and see me there.
Although you may feel
a bit torn apart,
please know that I’ll be
forever in your heart.
Now fly away butterfly as
high as you can go,
I’m right there with you
more than you know.

Don’t spend too much
time in mourning.
Tears are for the sad. I left
to be with Jesus, and
this should make you glad.
Don’t waste your
hours in grieving.
No need to feel distress.
I’m tired of life’s frustrations,
and had to get some rest.
Don’t vex yourself with
questions, or try to reason why.
Life here for me was ended;
it came my time to die.
Don’t lose the love I gave you;
feed it with your care.
Grow it with devotion and
spread it everywhere.
Don’t fret because my leaving
came in such a way.
We’ll have another meeting,
in God’s Eternal Day!