She is survived by her boys Jon (Michelle) and Jason Darter and her five bonus children: Jeffrey (Johnna) Darter, Joseph (Mai) Darter, RaeAnn (Stu) Jacobs, John (Sandy) Darter and Peggy (Joe) Hannam, her sister Kay (Nick) Gloe, and many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Jo is preceded in death by her loving husband William “Bill” Darter and her parents Allan and Vera Graff.

Jo grew up in Sheridan Township and was so proud to share the memories of her family running the Sheridan Store. She attended the Sheridan #2 Country School, graduated Grinnell High School in 1965 and eagerly shared her love of learning and a certain competitive nature in her successful test scores. She married Ron Riddle but they were later divorced. They had one son, Jon Riddle, who was later adopted by her second husband Bill Darter. Jo married Bill Darter on May 26th, 1973 and they brought their families together. Jo worked for Grinnell Reinsurance, Tama State Bank, the Tama News Herald and the Admin AE6 office throughout her career. One of her greatest joys was in proofreading and she was truly spellcheck before spellcheck existed, ensuring everyone’s punctuation and grammar was properly on par.

Jo had a passion for reading and the written word and she enjoyed sending birthday and Christmas cards to her friends and family. Jo could be counted on to balance her checkbook to the penny and was quick to nudge you if your aforementioned card gift left an outstanding check in her register. She enjoyed fishing with her late husband Bill and often shared fond memories of them watching TV shows such as Antique Roadshow and making a gentlemen’s bet about the price an artifact might fetch at auction. Jo adored her friends, many of whom she cherished her entire life through trips to the Iowa State Fair, playing board games and cards or just sitting down for a meal and a good visit. She loved card games and carried her cribbage board with her wherever she went. She was part of the theater guild and truly enjoyed selling tickets and concessions at the Wieting Theater in Toledo. She had an enormous passion for helping others and always saved things she thought someone may need or might make them smile, even if that was as simple as sharing a cinnamon candy she always carried in her pocket. Jo loved every moment of spending quality time with her family, most recently her grandson Braylon, providing his favorite snacks, watching his activities and sports or listening to oldies music and singing along.

Visitation will be held Thursday, July 14th from 5-7 pm and funeral services will be held on Friday, July 15th at 10:30 am at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama, Iowa. Interment will follow at Sheridan Cemetery in rural Grinnell. Memorials will go to Wieting Theater or Toledo Library, two of Jo’s favorite places.

Jo’s memory will live on in all those who knew and loved her, and as we did at the end of every call, we’re blowing kisses your way.