Jo-Ann L. Katz.
Jo-Ann L. Katz was born October 13, 1940 in St. Louis, MO. She was one of four daughters born to Joseph (Joe) & Emma Voss. Jo-Ann grew up in St. Louis and graduated from St. Alphonsus Rock High School. After high school, she married and began one of her favorite roles in life, being a mom to her three children, Joyce, Laurie and TJ.
In 1974, Jo-Ann moved to Branson, MO with her family. Along with caring for her family, she owned and operated Bee Discount in Downtown Branson, a favorite shopping spot among locals and tourists alike. She later served as Director of the Bakery, Deli and Floral Departments at Country Mart Grocery Store where she was known as the "Country Mart Lady", and retired from her role there in 2004.
While living in Branson, Jo-Ann met and married Gerald “Jerry” Richards in 1985 at the First Baptist Church in Branson. After Jerry’s passing, she was blessed in marriage to her husband Paul Katz in 2009.
Jo-Ann was a woman of faith from a young age. She was an integral part in each church community she had been a part of and loved the church families she had served with.
Jo-Ann entered into rest on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield at the age of 84.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph & Emma Voss; her daughter, Laurie Hagerman; husband Jerry Richards; and sister Dorothy Mollerus.
Jo-Ann will be deeply missed by her husband, Paul Katz of Springfield; daughter, Joyce Wood (Rodney) of Ramsey, MN; son, Thomas “TJ” Hagerman (Lorrie) of Billings, MO; sisters, Bernice Mollerus of Kirkwood, MO and Sister Joan Marie Voss of Belleville, IL; her grandchildren, Emmett Wood of Kansas City, MO, Tyler Wood of Kansas City, Seth Hagerman of Springfield and McKenna Hagerman of Billings, step-daughters, Kari Kraemer (Ken) of Elk Grove Village, IL and Kristi Barfield (Jerry) of Piedmont, MO, step-grandchildren Erica Andrews of Piedmont, MO, Brianna Michael of Piedmont, MO, Joe Kraemer of Seattle, WA, Campbell Kraemer of Chicago, IL, Nate Kraemer of Elk Grove Village, IL, along with extended family and friends.
Memorial services will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 11:00 am in Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home & Crematory, Branson with Dr. Sam Kaunley officiating.
In Jo-Ann’s honor, memorials are requested to the Sanctuary of Hope Missions Fund, 1790 Bee Creek Road, Branson, MO 65616.
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