JoAnn M. Loepker, 70, of Troy, IL, born November 8, 1945, in Breese, IL, entered into rest on Monday, May 02, 2016, surrounded by her loving family at Anderson Hospital, Maryville, IL. She fought a long hard battle with pancreatic cancer for 2.5 years. She was a very courageous woman and tried to keep active despite her terrible illness.

JoAnn was a member of St. Jerome Catholic Church, St. Ann's Sodality, helping with many funeral luncheons and served as a Eucharistic Minister at Mass. She was an amazing wife, sister, mother and grandmother and spent her life pleasing her loved ones. She spent countless hours helping care for her grandchildren and took great pleasure in doing so. She was an excellent homemaker taking great pride in her home and beautifying her home. As a gardener she enjoyed planting and caring for the beautiful flowers and the hard work making her garden a sanctuary. She enjoyed sewing, making clothes for her children when they were young and made all curtains in her home. Jo Ann was also very active with the family rental business. Most of all she loved and was deeply loved by her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Agnes (nee Varel) Holtmann.

Surviving are her husband, Herbert "Herb" Loepker of Troy, IL, sons, Rodney, Craig and Brent Loepker of Maryville, IL; daughter Angela (Chris) Wernle of Highland, IL,; grandchildren, Payton, Madisyn and Grant Wernle and Ezra Loepker; brother, Roger Holtmann of German Town, IL,; sisters, Kathleen (Henry) Schmeink of Carlyle, IL, Janet (Ron) Rapp of Marine, IL, Linda Nelson of Aviston, IL, Delores (Mike) Trame of Highland, IL, Sharon Schneider of Belleville, IL, Mary Jane (Kelly) Gustin of New Baden, IL and Tina Holtmann of New Baden, IL; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Memorials may be made to St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Black jack, IL or Siteman Cancer Center, Pancreatic Cancer Research, 4921 Parkview Pl, St Louis, MO 63110. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at wwwRichesonfh.com

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 5, 2016 at Richeson Funeral Home, Troy, IL and 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, May 6, 2016 at St. Jerome Catholic Church, Troy, IL

Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 6, 2016 at St. Jerome Catholic Church, with Fr. Alan Hunter, Fr. Paul Habing, and Fr. Pat Jakel officiating. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Black Jack, IL

RICHESON FUNERAL HOME, Troy, IL