Jo M. Lindoo

Jo M. Lindoo left this life on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. She was born in St. Croix Falls, WI, on December 31, 1959. She passed on to the Next Place with her family and friends seeing her off. Jo grew up in Milltown, WI. She attended Unity High School where she was a 3-sport athlete, playing volleyball, basketball, and track and field. She attended UW-EC as an undergrad majoring in physical education while also playing on the women’s basketball and softball teams. Jo earned her Master’s degree at Washington State University (Pullman). Jo was hired as the Recreation Director and basketball coach at Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee. She went on to UW-Whitewater as a lecturer and aquatics specialist. Jo was assistant volleyball and softball coach. Jo took a 1-year position at UW-EC in the Kinesiology department and was assistant volleyball coach. She became a certified personal fitness trainer and worked at Gold’s Gym and Highland Fitness (her favorite). She proceeded to torture her clients whom she absolutely adored. Jo married Gretchen Beckstrom on February 25, 2013, while on a trip to Hawaii, though they have been together for over 20 years. Jo was a strong advocate for Title IX, working to ensure that girls and women had equal opportunity to participate in the sports they loved. Jo was one of six women in Wisconsin who ran an organization: Women’s Sports Advocates of Wisconsin from 1987-1996. The group was responsible for gathering and sending information to all high schools in WI to nominate girls for the WSAW Award. A yearly banquet honored the athletes who met both athletic and academic criteria. Jo’s tenacity, persistence, and downright stubbornness served her well in many aspects of her life. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1995 and survived another 23 years. (Probably another record!) Through all that, she maintained her amazing positive attitude. Jo just took on the obstacles as they came. She had to give up driving, but just commuted to work on her trusty bike 7 miles (one way!) year-round through rain, sleet, sub-zero temps and snow. Jo was known for being “thrifty” with money but was so generous of heart. She wanted to raise money for the Breast Cancer Fund and go on their fundraiser mountain climb. They turned her down for the trek because of the liability with her seizures but she raised the money anyway and did her OWN mountain climb. She and Gretchen climbed Mt Quandry -14,265ft! If there were children or animals around, Jo was drawn to them so she could play too. Jo enjoyed board games – especially Rummikub. She hated to lose and was an unabashed cheater. She loved the outdoors and was a fearless adventurer. She enjoyed all varieties of skiing, biking, hiking, camping, backpacking, gardening, swimming, sailboarding, and bird watching. She went on several backpacking trips. Jo was strong as an ox and if someone’s pack was too heavy, Jo would haul some of the extra weight for you. It must be noted that she DID go ballistic the time she discovered she was carrying a friend’s curling iron in the remote wilderness. Oh, that girl could swear a blue streak and was well-versed in cuss words. Her family sailed the Caribbean for a few months when Jo was a kid. She traveled all over the US, the Canadian Rockies, Australia, and Europe. Jo’s favorite place on Earth was her family cabin (no running water or electricity) on a remote island on Rainy Lake. She loved to share this place with her loved ones. Jo always had a project going...building an outdoor biffy, making something out of wood, doing needlework, making colorful switch plates, beading, or dreaming up some weird activity that she expected everyone else to try. Jo will be remembered for her sense of humor, her warmth, and her quick and beautiful smile. She loved music and danced whenever possible. She was very disappointed not to see our first woman president be elected. Jo was a fierce feminist.. She was renowned for her strange hat collection and shockingly mismatched wardrobe. Most importantly, Jo Lindoo shared her heart willingly and genuinely and gave the best hugs ever! She was well-loved by all who knew her. Jo was preceded in death by her father, Jack; and brother, Jim Lindoo. (Not to mention a long list of beloved pets). She is survived by her wife, Gretchen Beckstrom; her mother, Eldora Adachi; her brother, Jeff (Janna) Lindoo; sister-in-law, Kathy (Mike) Mlynarczyk; nieces and nephews, Deanna (Gary) Kaufman, Derek (Lisa) Lindoo, Megan AitBenHaddou, Dave (Beth) Lindoo; and several great nieces and nephews, Emma, Caleb, Shania, Amin, Tarik, Soraya, Ruby and Jack, and Angie Carty, who became part of the family after the Caribbean trip. We would like to thank the wonderful Mayo Hospice team who has taken care of Jo all these last months. We are so grateful for their kindness and compassion. A special thank you to Monika, Kara, Renee, Kayte and Evelyn. You are incredible people. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2018, at the WEST CHAPEL location of Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn. A Celebration of Life will follow from 4 to 6 p.m. Details available later. Please wear bright clothes...no black! Feel free to wear a crazy hat and leave your bras at home! In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local Humane Association, to Mayo Clinic Brain Research, or simply do an act of kindness for someone.

Service Information

Visitation

Saturday, March 10 2018
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn West Chapel
1405 N. Clairemont Ave
Eau Claire WI 54703