Jo Ann Carol Kutzke Balk

PORTAGE  -- Jo Ann Carol Kutzke Balk passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Monday December 28th, 2015 in Madison Wisconsin.  Services will be Saturday, January 2nd at 11:00 a.m. at Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage Wisconsin with visitation beginning at 9:00 until the time of service.

Jo Ann is survived by her children, Sheila (Kent) Kessler Stevens Point WI, Bunny Balk, Columbus WI, Catherine Heath, Montello WI.  Ben (Stacy) Balk, Beaver Dam, WI,  Grandchildren, Amy Kessler, Steve Droz, Will Kessler, Jody Ethridge, Erin Goerg, Jackie Puterbaugh, Micah Heath, eight great grandchildren, her birth sisters, Mary Grossman, Trudy Barton and birth Brother Pete Barton.  She was preceded in death by her parents Ben and Elsie Kutzke, daughter Robin Balk, best friend Shirley Kramer, her birth parents Mary Barton and Harold Sullivan and her favorite uncle, Nowell Stanton Jr.

Jo Ann was born on October 1st, 1933 and was chosen by Ben and Elsie Kutzke as their daughter.  She graduated from Portage High School in 1951 and attended Madison Business College.  She was married to Robert Balk of Prairie du Chien for 25 years. They had five children and lived most of those years in Illinois.  She received her associate’s degree in Accounting from Harper Collage in 1970 and worked in the accounting department of Motorola until her return to her home town of Portage Wisconsin in 1972.  After her return, Jo Ann found her true calling working with people, especially children.  She spent twenty years with Columbia County Social Services and retired in 1996.   Not one to stay idle after her retirement, she served two terms on the Portage City Council, worked for Head Start and Renewal Counseling, and was a surrogate grandma to every child she met.  Jo Ann was a member of the VFW Auxiliary in Portage.

Her children were her life and her legacy.  Her sense of humor kept her sane as she raised them.  She was a story teller and a jokester, always bringing laughter to even the darkest of moments.  She was kind to everyone and taught her children empathy for others and to laugh and love.  She enjoyed the companionship of her little dog, Jack and had a warm spot for all creatures.  Jo Ann asked her family to say a special good-bye to her cousin William Kutzke and his wife Betty.

In Lieu of flowers, Jo Ann asked that she be remembered by gifts to her favorite charities, Columbia County Humane Society, Ronald McDonald House and St. Jude’s for Children.