Joanne "Jo" Eileen Blatt, 79, died on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, in Superior after a long battle with Parkinson's disease and most recently bone cancer.

Jo was born in Superior, Wisconsin, on September 14,1944 to Henry and Mary Ann Jensen. She graduated from Superior Central High School in 1962. She earned a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a Masters of Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

Jo taught second grade in the Proctor School District from 1968 until her retirement in 2003. She was a much-loved teacher who will always be remembered for the circus she put on in her classroom every spring, her great sense of humor, and the kindness she showed to everyone she came in contact with. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa teachers' sorority, Red Hats, Catholic Daughters, St. Vincent DePaul, Bible Study, and was a dedicated member of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior where she was involved in many church activities. Jo took a life changing pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2013. Religion held a prominent place in Jo's life. Jo loved traveling and took many bus trips around the United States with friends. She was very generous—she would do anything for anyone. She knew everyone and had to know everything about everybody! She loved to make special things happen for the special people in her life. Jo was a wonderful friend, and she was blessed with many fantastic friends throughout her life.

Joanne married Leo Thomas Blatt on February 5, 1965, and together they raised three children—Todd, Tammi, and Troy. Tom and Jo shared 40 years of marriage before his death in 2005. Jo was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and she will be dearly missed. She was preceded in death by her husband Tom, her parents Henry and Mary Ann Jensen, her granddaughter Madison, and her stepson Jeff. She is survived by her children Todd (Vicky) Blatt, Tammi (Cary) Gimpel, and Troy (Kacey) Blatt; grandchildren Mandi (Lee), Matt (Mara), Thomas, Dan, Chase, Colton, and Ella; great-grandson Leo; sister Jan (Bob) Herrick; brother Bill (Marilyn) Jensen; sister-in-law Linda (Jim) Jarzynski; nephews Robbie, Erik, Andy, and Nick; and niece Jessie. Joanne was devoted to her family—she loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandson unconditionally. They were the light of her life! Jo's family was truly blessed to have had her in their lives!

Jo's family would like to thank the second-floor nurses at Divine Rehabilitation and Nursing at Superior for the wonderful care she received and for being there with her throughout her long journey. They were kind and compassionate, and they helped to make the end of her life the best it could be.

Visitation will be Wednesday, March 6, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Downs Funeral Home and Thursday, March 7, at the Cathedral of Christ the King one hour prior to the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial. The burial will be at Calvary Cemetery and a luncheon will follow back at the church.

Pallbearers will be Chase Gimpel, Thomas Blatt, Matt Blatt, Colton Blatt, Cary Gimpel, Rob Herrick, Lee Erkkila, Dan Blatt, Chad Siegel and Andy Saari.