Norma “Jo” Rushing Koeneman, 91, passed away on Thursday, December 15, at Chester Memorial Hospital after a short bout with pneumonia. Jo was born on February 13, 1931, to Wave (Stone) and Clyde Rushing in New Burnside, Illinois. They moved to Chester, IL, when Jo was about three years old.
Jo graduated from Chester High School where she was Homecoming queen, cheerleader, twirler, and representative to Illinois Girls’ State. While at Girls’ State, Jo was selected to represent the state of Illinois at Girls’ Nation and made her first trip on a train to Washington, D.C. Jo worked for Dr. Hoffman, a Chester physician, and for Prim Hosiery.
Jo paid her way through Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL) by working for the president of the University. While at SIU, she was Homecoming queen, a cheerleader, an officer for Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, and ROTC Colonel and Queen. Jo later served for many years on the SIU Alumni Board.
After college, Jo married Bill E. Koeneman in Chester on August 7, 1954. They then moved to Albany, Georgia, where Bill served in the US Air Force. When they returned to Chester, Jo worked for the Chester Bridge and Koeneman Acres as an office manager and accountant. Jo and Bill later purchased Koeneman Agency where Jo was a real estate and insurance broker for nearly 60 years. Jo was honored as Business Person of the Year by the Chester Chamber of Commerce in 2019.
Jo was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Chester, where she served as Deacon. She also served for many years as a member of the Park Board. Jo and Bill were founding members of Chester Country Club where they initiated the Bankers Invitational Golf Tournament and the Koeneman Classic, which is still held as a memorial tourney for Bill as The Count Classic. Jo ran nearly all of the tournaments at CCC for about 40 years and once made a hole-in-one on number 8!
Jo and Bill were proud parents to Kim Knight, Naples, FL, and Brad (Lynn) Koeneman, Clayton, MO, and Naples, FL. Jo was an amazing “Nana” to Erin Jo Harris, Nashville, TN; Beau (Candace) Harris, Naples, FL; Drew (Austin) Koeneman, Palm Beach Gardens, FL; and Blair Koeneman, San Francisco, CA. She was delighted to be a great-grandmother to Elliott Harris and Palmer Koeneman.
Jo is survived by her nephews Paul (Kyle) Koeneman, Chester, IL, and Greg Koeneman, Chesterfield, MO; her sister-in-law, Kay (Bob) Sobo, St. Augustine, FL; niece Julie (JT) Schwalm, St. Augustine, FL; nephew Jeffrey Bell, Queen Valley, AZ; her dear friend and long-time secretary, Donna Sauerhage, Chester, IL; and a host of family and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Bill, siblings Opal (Dietz) Helmers, George (LaVerne) Rushing, her in-laws Bruno and Marguerite (Finley) Koeneman, brother-in-law Don P. (Mary Ann) Koeneman, and son-in-law Dale Knight.
Funeral Service:
11:00 am, Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Pechacek Funeral Homes, Chester, Illinois
Officiating:
Beau Harris
Interment:
Paradise Cemetery
Steeleville, Illinois
Visitation:
Tuesday – 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Pechacek Funeral Homes, Chester, Illinois
Memorials:
Chester Country Club
First Presbyterian Church, Chester, Illinois
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