Jo An grew up in Marrs Township in Posey County where she attended a one-room schoolhouse. She graduated from Reitz High School in 1949 and continued her education at Lockyear’s Business College. Her first job was working for the Vanderburgh Parks and Recreation Department, and she never stopped working until she retired at age 85.
She married Charles “Pud” Niehaus in 1957, and they enjoyed almost 50 years of marriage until Pud’s passing in 2006. They met at the skating rink and could waltz and jitterbug on their roller skates. They enjoyed taking their grandkids camping and going on drives to look for deer; they never missed their kids’ and grandkids’ softball games and other achievements.
Jo An lived a life full of faith, family and service to all living creatures. She was a lifelong member of Salem United Church of Christ – Heusler where she served as the church secretary for many years. She produced Sunday bulletins with a manual typewriter and mimeograph machine until the electronic typewriter and later the computer were invented. She began teaching Sunday School at seventeen, and was renowned for her Vacation Bible School crafts. She made the brownies for Salem’s fall festival booth and the cornbread for Salem’s sausage supper and helped whenever and wherever needed.
As a child she had a knack for rescuing abandoned baby animals and nursing them back to health. She had pet squirrels, foxes, raccoons, rabbits, possums, and even a skunk. Jo An loved her horses and ponies too, and she always had cats and dogs by her side. Her caretaking spirit was evident throughout her life.
In her career she was known for her hardworking and tireless commitment to getting things done well and with kindness. Whether that was helping her father run “Al’s Place”, a country store, gas station and mechanic’s garage in Posey County or working for H&R Block in their quality control office and tax preparation, Jo An performed her duties with great care for her customers and clients. She worked for H&R Block for over 40 years and retired at age 85. Much like her job as church secretary, she went from learning the tax code and writing taxes manually to becoming an expert at preparing taxes on the computer.
She was an artist at heart. She loved to paint and create crafts, refinish antique furniture, make wooden puzzles with her scroll saw, and wood carve. In her later years, she began crocheting/looming hundreds of hats for Chemo Buddies Stitchers. Most importantly, she passed those artistic talents to her grandchildren. She played softball well into her 60’s, where she played on the team with her sister Betty, nieces, and daughters. Jo An could always be counted on for a base hit down third base line. She enjoyed golfing and bowling, winning many medals at the Senior Olympics. She was a woman of many talents!
There was nothing more important to Jo An than her family. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Niehaus and her parents Al and Marie Grebe, her sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Wilton Rueger, and her brother Albert ”Bud” Grebe. She is survived by her sisters Judy Grebe (Harold Dillworth) and Bonnie (Bill) Frost, her sisters-in-law Ruby Grebe and Betty Jo Patton, her daughters Tami (Larry “Brain”) Collins and Beth (Ron) Folz, grandchildren Laticia (Nick) Wigand, Britni (Troy) Teeters, Justin (Meagan) Collins, Christopher Folz, Joseph (Tiffany) Folz and Marie Folz, her great-grandchildren Elise and Endy Collins, Leo, Pete and Eleanor Wigand, Omelia and Oliver Teeters and Louis, Beck, Oscar and Floyd Collins (with a 12th great-grandchild on the way), her nieces and nephews Angie Grebe, Terri (Dan) Riddle, Debbie Wells, Kim (Rick Brooks), Denny Patton, Susan (Dennis) Blackburn and Ronnie (Tracy) Patton and numerous great nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank family friend Celesta Gostley for the kind caretaking she provided Jo An during her last months of life and the staff of Heritage Hospice for their care in the last week. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Salem Church – Heusler Memorial Fund or Habitat for Humanity of Evansville.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 10:30 am at Salem Church – Heusler, 11325 E. Old Lower Mt. Vernon Rd., Evansville, IN 47712 officiated by Pastor Al Schmitz. Friends may visit Friday 3:00-7:00 pm at Alexander West Chapel and Saturday from 9:30-10:30 am at the church.
Condolences may be offered at www.AlexanderWestChapel.com.
