Jo Ann Haapasaari

BY Staff Reports
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
7/04/12 at 4:48 AM

Haapasaari – Jo Ann, was born Jo Ann Jefferson on December 4, 1940 to John Arthur and Viola Caroline Jefferson in Highland Park, Illinois, and grew up in that north shore Chicago suburb. First married in August 1959, her first child, Scott, was born in August 1960, followed shortly by her second son, Doug, in April 1962. Jo Ann worked many years as a receptionist and scheduler for Dr. Harding, a dermatologist in Arlington Heights, IL, and was very popular with all of his patients. In the late 1970’s she decided to attend nursing school and later had many interesting nursing positions, including charge nurse in the intensive care unit at Forest (psychiatric) Hospital (without doubt her most demanding role), a Portamedic examiner who gave home-based insurance physicals, a trainer for Dri-Pride adult diaper products, and her last job, shift nurse at Brighton Gardens, a Marriott-owned assisted living facility. Leo Haapasaari, the real love and center of her life, and Jo Ann, were married on April 5, 1985, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Jo Ann’s son Scott and his wife Beth stood up for them in a small ceremony. She and Leo were completely devoted to each other, through good times and bad, for the next 27 years together. In 1985, Eric, the first grandchild (born to Scott and Beth), kicked off what was arguably her most successful career role: Grandma. Her spontaneity, general sense of wonder at every detail, child-like sense of humor, and general silliness all converged to make her a stellar grandma. Scott & Beth’s later children Kristin, Katie, and Jonathan would complete the headline cast for this role. Throughout, she enthusiastically encouraged sons Scott and Doug, and daughter-in-law Beth, in their every endeavor. Jo Ann is survived by her beloved “Darling” husband Leo, her two sons and her daughter-in-law, and her four grandchildren. There will be a memorial service Thursday afternoon, July 5, at 3:30 in the Coterie Theater at Montereau, 6800 South Granite. This obituary was published in the Tulsa World on 7/4/2012.

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