Obituary for Marie Joan "Jo" Blincoe
Marie Joan (Jo) Blincoe left her worldly existence on August 12, 2022. While the precise location of her eternal home is unknown, there is a good chance it is a dog park, the side lines of a sports field or a human rights protest.
An avid conversationalist and gifted homemade doughnut maker, Jo was born on Jan. 2, 1934 (or as she liked to say, 1,2,3,4) to William and Marie (Lorenz) Butler. Taking the 6th spot in a farming family, she learned a variety of skills, from properly brandishing an asparagus harvesting tool to a mastery of basketball. Jo had a storied high school career, leading the Sacred Heart Valkyries to the 1951 city championship. Named Most Valuable Player, she retired that same year yet remained an avid fan of the sport.
As a grown up, Jo honed a new mastery in the classroom, where, as a kindergarten teacher, she molded some of the great minds of Louisville ... or at the very least, taught them their colors.
Jo was passionate about social justice, and did her part to save the world. She was the recipient of a 1996 Bell Award for her work with the Glade House, an organization that provided housing and support services for those suffering with AIDS. She was also a board member of Friends of Esquipulas, a faith-based group committed to building solidarity and providing assistance to a farming community in Esquipulas, Nicaragua. She traveled twice to the area, where she was known as Juanita, a beloved friend to the community.
Jo would want to note that she was preceded in death by her dogs, Kipper, Rennie, Toto, Muffet, KC and Millie; and some humans: Her parents, brothers Jim (Butter) and Bill, several in-laws and billions of other people. Left to feed her dog Monica is Ben, her husband of 62 years, and their children, Tina, Matt (Brenda), Ben (Kelly) and Denis (Christie); grandchildren, Meredith Doll, Hannah Doll (Jake Johnson), Madison Easton (Jon), Graham, Caroline, Lizzie, Mack, Elle, Nick, Sam, Jake and Zach Blincoe; two adorable great-grandsons, Luke and Brooks Easton; and her siblings, Elsie Schlich, Marge McGrath, Paul Butler (Barbara) and Theresa Butler.
Her Celebration of Life will be at St. Margaret Mary, 7813 Shelbyville Road, on Saturday, August 20th at 10:00am. Visitation will be held at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd, Thursday, August 18th from 4:00 to 8:00.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to Friends of Esquipulas, c/o St. William, 1226 W Oak Street, Louisville, KY 40210.
An avid conversationalist and gifted homemade doughnut maker, Jo was born on Jan. 2, 1934 (or as she liked to say, 1,2,3,4) to William and Marie (Lorenz) Butler. Taking the 6th spot in a farming family, she learned a variety of skills, from properly brandishing an asparagus harvesting tool to a mastery of basketball. Jo had a storied high school career, leading the Sacred Heart Valkyries to the 1951 city championship. Named Most Valuable Player, she retired that same year yet remained an avid fan of the sport.
As a grown up, Jo honed a new mastery in the classroom, where, as a kindergarten teacher, she molded some of the great minds of Louisville ... or at the very least, taught them their colors.
Jo was passionate about social justice, and did her part to save the world. She was the recipient of a 1996 Bell Award for her work with the Glade House, an organization that provided housing and support services for those suffering with AIDS. She was also a board member of Friends of Esquipulas, a faith-based group committed to building solidarity and providing assistance to a farming community in Esquipulas, Nicaragua. She traveled twice to the area, where she was known as Juanita, a beloved friend to the community.
Jo would want to note that she was preceded in death by her dogs, Kipper, Rennie, Toto, Muffet, KC and Millie; and some humans: Her parents, brothers Jim (Butter) and Bill, several in-laws and billions of other people. Left to feed her dog Monica is Ben, her husband of 62 years, and their children, Tina, Matt (Brenda), Ben (Kelly) and Denis (Christie); grandchildren, Meredith Doll, Hannah Doll (Jake Johnson), Madison Easton (Jon), Graham, Caroline, Lizzie, Mack, Elle, Nick, Sam, Jake and Zach Blincoe; two adorable great-grandsons, Luke and Brooks Easton; and her siblings, Elsie Schlich, Marge McGrath, Paul Butler (Barbara) and Theresa Butler.
Her Celebration of Life will be at St. Margaret Mary, 7813 Shelbyville Road, on Saturday, August 20th at 10:00am. Visitation will be held at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd, Thursday, August 18th from 4:00 to 8:00.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to Friends of Esquipulas, c/o St. William, 1226 W Oak Street, Louisville, KY 40210.