Jo Ann A. Fossberg

Jo Ann Annette Fossberg was born in Central City, Nebraska on January 7th 1940 to Irvin and Aleta Fossberg. She had 2 brothers and 2 sisters; Denzil, Dudley, Lola, and Gayle. Jo Ann enjoyed playing outdoors, making snowmen, roller skating, board games, riding bikes, and attending school picnics. She was a big help with the household chores like laundry, washing the car and raking leaves. She enjoyed her ice cream. Jo Ann had fun climbing in and out of windows, being silly, and wearing funny hats. Some of her favorite activities were reading books, especially comics. She played with dolls and stuffed animals; her favorite doll was named Brownie. She even tried her hand at a toy accordion. She loved animals and played tug-o-war with her dogs Pepper and Snookie. In May 1954, her family took a cross-country trip to Oregon to visit her Aunt Wilma, they stayed at motels and stopped and took in many natural sites along to way. June of 1954 was memorable for Jo Ann because her mother, a friend named Karen, and she had a flat tire alongside the road; a police officer and her father stopped to help. She attended school in Central City and graduated from Grand Island High. She attended Cosmetology and Nursing School. She worked as a beautician, waitress, assembly line worker, Campbell Soup plant, baker, in-home health care worker, and she ran an in-house cleaning service. She met Dennis Mach, they were married May 20th 1961 and would have three boys, Michael, Russell, and Robert. They lived in several locations in Fremont, Nebraska. They divorced July 7th 1970. She moved to Omaha, Nebraska where she and the boys would take road trips to visit her parents in Grand Island, her sisters Gayle in Hastings, Lola in Polk, brothers Dudley in Nebraska City, and Denzil who liked to move around. Jo Ann attended Metropolitan Community College and studied Early Childhood Education. She worked in the field, and would eventually run her own daycare. Jo Ann was a collector. She loved pansies, circus clowns, and magazine clippings for the seasonal craft to make with her daycare kids and grandchildren. She enjoyed reading the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. She was known for her Famous Cinnamon Rolls, Fruit Salad, and Christmas time for the Pretzel Circles. The grandkids would M&M the pretzels for miles. Jo Ann’s deteriorating health didn’t allow her to live on her own, so she spent most of her final years at Maple Crest Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by parents Irvin and Aleta Fossberg; Brothers Denzil Fossberg and Dudley Fossberg; Sister Lola Meline; Nephews Brad Fossberg and Steve Fossberg; Niece Sonja Fossberg. Jo Ann is survived by Children: Michael (Marcella) Mach, Russell (Patty) Mach, and Robert (Christie) Mach; Grand-children: Melissa (David) Tyree, Jennifer (Albert) Winkler, Alexandria (Michael Powell) Mach, Paige Mach; Great-Grandchildren: Christopher, Aaron, Natalie, Ada, Aiden; Sister: Gayle (Vernon) Kranau; Sister-in-laws: Nancy Fossberg and Venice Fossberg. Jo Ann is also survived by many other family and friends. Celebration of Jo Ann’s Life: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 10:30am and Maple Crest Nursing Home.