Josephine "JoAnn" Wygant

Josephine "JoAnn" (Wilhelm) Wygant, daughter of Pete and Mary Wilhelm, was born in Ontario, California on September 3, 1935, and died Tuesday, January 31, 2023, in Austin, Texas, at the age of 87. She will be greatly missed. Known by many fond nicknames—Big Red, Mama Kitty, Mama Jo, Grammy Jo, Ruth—she lived life with sass, class and a wicked sense of humor. She fiercely loved her friends and family and enjoyed gardening, crossword puzzles, Jeopardy! and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs. She read every single mystery in the Dallas County library and was a life-long learner, approaching new things with an inspiring sense of curiosity and wonder. She even learned to love sushi, at least once she figured out wasabi was NOT guacamole! She married the love of her life, Ray Wygant, in 1959 and they were united with their daughter, April Wygant Soechting, in 1969. They moved to a farm near Buffalo in 1974 where they raised beef cattle, chickens, hay and every kind of vegetable. Joann remained in Buffalo 10 years after Ray passed away in 2007, before relocating to Austin with April and her family. JoAnn was an accountant for most of her career, serving as bookkeeper for the Dallas County R-I School District for more than 20 years. She and her two best friends, Willa Phillips and Barbara Blair, did everything together, including their retirement in 2000. She rediscovered her faith with the St. William Church in Buffalo and remained active in her school and church communities, including Gateway Christian Church in Austin. When April was in school, JoAnn was “that mom”—volunteering for school events, pushing the fluoride cart (ask someone 50+ what this is), helping with Girl Scouts, keeping score at ballgames, etc. If you can name it, she probably did it and made even more friends in the process. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and many beloved aunts, uncles and friends. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Steve Soechting; her grandson, Zachary Soechting; her sister, Patricia Hill, and nephew, Ken Hill; family Holly Reed, Ron & Jamie Kay Cook, Glenna & Kathy Spindelman, Amber Delgado, Debi Struzinski, Kay Soechting, Alex Guevera and Simon Martinez; special friends Willa Phillips, Beth Miller Charlton and Linda Brown; and many friends and neighbors. Funeral Services for JoAnn will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2023, at 1:00 P.M. at Cantlon-Otterness & Viets Funeral Home in Buffalo, Missouri. Visitation will be Saturday, February 4, 2023, from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Lindley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Lindley Cemetery or Alzheimer's Association. Lindley Christian Church Cemetery C/O Roger Rankin 375 State Rd C Buffalo, Mo 65622

Josephine "JoAnn" Wygant

September 3, 1935 - January 31, 2023