Obituaries : Joan M. Sainsbury

Vinton—Joan M. “Jo” Sainsbury, 72, died peacefully Saturday, July 4, 2015 at Virginia Gay Nursing and Rehab in Vinton following a lengthy illness.  Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m Thursday, July 9, 2015  at Wesley United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Judith Bunyi officiating.  Visitation will also be at the church from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 8.  Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Baraboo, WI.

Joan Marie Sainsbury was born August 7, 1942 in Baraboo, WI, the daughter of Joseph and Mabel Brickner Sainsbury.  She graduated from Baraboo High School, then attended Miltonvale Wesleyan College in Miltonvale, KS, before receiving her BA and MA from the University of Northern Iowa.  Joan was a teacher and principal in the Vinton-Shellsburg Community Schools, retiring in 1997.  She was elementary principal at Union Community Schools in 1998 and supervised student teachers for the UNI Department of Teaching.  She was a member of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Iowa Association of School Administrators and the Iowa State School Board Association. 

She was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church, serving on various committees and as a member of Ruth Circle and Christian Education Director.  Jo was very involved in the community and was a member of Kiwanis Daybreakers.  Jo served on the boards of Vinton Unlimited, Vinton Parks and Recreation, Vinton-Shellsburg School District and was on the original Board of Trustees for the Palace Theater. 

Jo is survived by her special friend, Jan McLeod; brother, Paul (Carol) Sainsbury, Madison, WI; one aunt, Virginia Fenske; two uncles, Bill and Chuck Brickner; several nieces and nephews and many, many friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Gerald “Mike”. 

Memorials may be directed to Wesley United Methodist Church. 

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Jo and her family.  Condolences may be left at vsrfh.com.