Jo Schwanz

Jolene Ann Schwanz (Kropf) was born on June 24, 1940 to Lilly (Giermann) and Arnold Kropf and baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. She grew up in the Schleswig and Boyer area spending a lot of time with her family and cousins. Jolene attended a small country school and eventually graduated from Odebolt High School in 1958. Jolene had three children: Sherri, James, and Marni. The family moved to a farm in 1964. Time was spent working on the farm and frequent get-togethers with friends and family (cousins, nieces/ nephews, sister and brother in laws). After the children were grown, Jolene remained on the farm and cared for her mother Lilly until her passing in 1998.

Jolene was happiest on her farm, where she raised nearly every kind of farm animal, weeded her flower beds meticulously (no weed allowed in sight), complained about the cats and chickens she fed every night, and enjoyed being outdoors. Jo was happiest on her farm, being outside and spending time with her dog, Cinnamon. She loved being busy and spreading her talents from flipping burgers at Dee C’s Drive Inn, being a waitress at Carol’s Kitchen, caring for the elderly at Odebolt Nursing Home, and tirelessly helping her daughter, Sherri, clean homes around the Odebolt area.

Outside of work, she enjoyed playing cards with friends, coffee with her friends and cousins, watching Iowa Hawkeyes basketball and football, and faithfully attending St John’s Lutheran Church. She loved spending time with her grandchildren who affectionately knew her as Grandma Jo. She faithfully attended her grandchildren’s concerts, recitals, and sporting events. She loved baking brownies, cinnamon rolls, pies, chocolate covered peanut butter crackers, and pancakes with her grandchildren. The holidays with Grandma Jo weren’t complete without a 2 gallon bag of her caramel popcorn, decorating for Christmas, and listening to old Christmas records. Time at Grandma Jo’s also often included turkey roasters full of homemade popcorn, Pepsi, and a competitive game of Yahtzee (with her own rules).

Jolene passed away on November 19, 2025. Jolene was preceded in death by her parents and two grandchildren (Jessica Schwanz and Camden Herrig).

Left to cherish her memory are her three children: Sherri (David) Blair, James (Brenda) Schwanz, and Marni (Bryan) Herrig; thirteen grandkids Kariann (Jason) Drwal, Jenilynn (Paul) Sarka, Jesse (Kayla) Schwanz, Cassie (Robert Glissmann) Herrig, Dillon (Jordan) Schwanz, Joshua (Taylor) Blair, Cade (Londyn) Herrig, Spencer (Lexi) Schwanz, Colton (Kelsey) Herrig, Callie (Nick) Babcock, Sydney (Jared) Hinkeldey, Camber Herrig (Shay Kamstra), Coen Herrig; and 23 (one on the way) great-grandchildren.

Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., with visitation from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., on Monday, November 24, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Kiron. Burial will follow in the St. John Cemetery near Kiron. Memorials may be directed to St. John Lutheran Church.