JoAnn "Jo" Schlick Obituary (1947

JoAnn “Jo” Schlick, 78, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2025, in St. George, UT. Jo was born on May 10, 1947, to Ralph and LuElla Dirks, in Waterloo, Iowa. She married John Schlick on June 7, 1968. They had two children together and later divorced. Jo is survived by her daughter Jennifer (Kelly) Meredith of St. George, UT, her son Jason (Carrie) Schlick of Murfreesboro, TN, and five beloved grandchildren: Kyler, Kierstyn, and Trevin Meredith, and Calli and Molli Schlick. She is also survived by her sister Judy (Phil) Roberts, as well as cherished nephews, extended family, and many dear friends whom she considered to be family. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and LuElla Dirks. Jo spent her childhood in the small town of Reinbeck, Iowa. She loved living close to grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Even after she moved away, Jo treasured visits back to her hometown to visit family and friends, especially on the 4th of July. Jo graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in elementary education and went on to touch countless lives through her career as a teacher in Michigan and Tennessee. She spent most of those years at Bellwood Elementary in Murfreesboro, Tennessee as a beloved second grade teacher. After retiring in 2005, she continued to share her love of children by caring for them in her home, filling their days with art projects, science experiments and creative play. Her family and friends will remember her for her love of children and dedication to those she taught and nurtured. She had a remarkable ability to make every person feel special and loved. Jo also treasured her friendships and the special times they had sharing a good laugh over lunch, playing cards, or trips to the beach. Oh, how she loved the beach! She was blessed with a close circle of friends in Tennessee that she missed dearly when she moved across the country last year to be closer to her daughter. Her family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to Choice Hospice, the staff at Legacy Village Assisted Living, her doctors and nurses, and her dear friends who cared for her like family. Per her wishes, no formal services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Imagination Library or fulfilling a teacher's classroom wish list in honor of Jo’s lifelong passion for children and education.