Joan Jepsen

They are now Twice as much as 1/2 as much.  Joan Clara (Zieman) Jepsen, 89, passed from life to life eternal in paradise on Reformation Sunday, October 30, 2022 at St. Lukes on the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri.  Mom was born July 27, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois to Otto H. Zieman of Chicago, IL. and Lillie (Schank) Zieman of Chicago, IL.  As an early graduate from high school, she started her long working career in the business and education realms, beginning with a graduation from the Comptometer School of Chicago.  She held various titles from keypunch operator to secretary for business’ like Commonwealth Edison and ‘Preferred Angels’.  Jo started her next career as wife and mother on February 20, 1954 when she was united in marriage to the Love of her Life, David Robert Jepsen.  They were married for 51 years until Dad was called home on March 17, 2005.  She raised her two sons during the day and continued working for a temp agency at night till she was able to lighten the load by tackling the secretarial duties for Walther Lutheran High School.  This proved beneficial as she could keep a watchful eye on her youngest son, delighting when she had the opportunity to use the intercom to say, “Would my baby please come to the office.”  She finished her paid employment as a Budget and Financial analysis Specialist at Loyola University Medical Center, a few blocks from their home in Maywood, IL. where they resided for over 45 years.  In 2001 they moved to Harrisonville, MO. to be closer to their eldest son, where she lived until her final call home.  Being a proud Lutheran woman, she transferred her church membership to Bethany Lutheran.  When she wasn’t cooking and cleaning, she enjoyed games, bowling, collecting cookie jars and anything Elvis, going to the casino, and playing cards, especially cribbage and fireman’s gin.  She loved her dogs, from Dee-Dee to Bailee and watching movies whether it was newly released at the theater or airing for the umteenth time on late night television.  Being the baby herself since she was the youngest of 13 children, she has now joined her Honey and her six brothers and six sisters, passing on the mantle of Matriarch of the Ziemann clan to the next generation.  Even though she was a traditional old school, depression raised, hard headed German who could come across as someone with a stern and opinionated  attitude at times, she loved a good embarrassing  joke and prank, or singing some silly song or little ditty, just to make you smile and laugh.  With a kiss hello and with a kiss goodnight or goodbye and an occasional argument sandwiched in between them, God and Family were her basis for life.  That is my definition of a great mother.  Her love continues blooming in her two sons, David Randolph Jepsen of Overland Park, KS, and his wife, Lisa, their children, Brett (Crystal) Joeckel, Sayde Joeckel, Tayler Kilpatrick, and 7 step-great grandchildren and counting… ; and Carl Michael Jepsen of Petaluma, CA, and his wife, Lisa; and her two grandsons, Christopher Michael and Scott Daniel Jepsen.  Her love and memory also lives on in a multitude of nieces and nephews too numerous to count and list, however, that is how it plays when you are dealt into a large family.  Mom, we know it has been a long, lonely 17 and 1/2 years, but the cooking is done, the table is cleared, cleaned and ready, the food is wrapped and put away till snack time, the dishes are washed, dried and stored, now it is time to relax and play some cards; so stomp 3 times to tell Dad it’s time to come back upstairs.  Welcome Home !  Together, United Forever !Celebration Service

In lieu of flowers, please direct any donations to a memorial fund at the church.