Page created by: Robert Simms

It is with sadness that we share the news that Mary Jo Simms passed away on August 18, 2022 after a very brief and terrible fight with cancer and a longer battle with Parkinson's disease.

Mary Jo was born and raised in Valparaiso, Indiana where she worked in the cornfields as a child. After graduating from High School she enlisted in the Navy, beginning several decades of service to the United States. While in the Navy she worked in the Navy intelligence photo labs, developing film of covert operations in Cuba and other places. She retired from the Defense Logistics Agency, Department of Defense.

Mary Jo loved animals, dogs in particular. She couldn't stand cruelty to animals, or to people.

She hated bullies, believed in helping others, and in just being nice.

Mary Jo drank Milwaukee's Best Lite and, when feeling extravagant, Miller Lite.

She was known to be the "most un-materialistic" person her family knew, forsaking "nicer things" like name brand shoes and clothing, and more expensive beer, choosing instead cheaper things that "worked just fine."

Mary Jo was a voracious reader of the newspaper, magazines and books, especially mysteries.

She had a great, generous and sometimes irreverent sense of humor. Taxi, Cheers and the Golden Girls were appointment television in the Simms house.

Mary Jo was “the family photographer” and relished in finding that Kodak moment when her mother-in-law, aunts, uncles or cousins had a glass of wine, a whiskey sour, or a beer touching their lips. She also spent an inordinate amount of time searching for the perfect, funniest cards for birthdays and holidays.

Her moto for life was “just do the best you can.”

She loved Marvin Gay and the Motown sound. She listened to Saturday Night Fever and Grease soundtracks, and also loved Hall & Oates.

Those who knew Mary Jo know she thought for herself, was opinionated. She believed in fairness, equality. And she always cheered for the underdog.

When her son was a young child Mary Jo's car became “WeeHaul” as she began years of car-pooling kids to soccer games and tournaments, basketball games, and other activities. She often referred to herself as the "chauffeur" but really she was her son's biggest cheerleader. A role she continued throughout the rest of her life.

Mary Jo had a strong faith in the Lord and she believed that faith is — and should be — positive, up-lifting, and non-judgmental.

Mary Jo's daughter Barbara was killed in a car accident about 30 years ago. The death of a child can challenge your faith, your outlook on life. It can challenge everything. It's easy to become bitter, angry. She never did. She continued to attend and be active in her church. She remained friends with her daughter’s friends and their families. And, she remained a comforting and nurturing influence in many lives.

Mary Jo carried her faith with her until and through her passing. She was confident in it, and in who she was. While those who knew and loved her are heartbroken, we can take comfort in knowing that she has gone Home and is in Heaven with her Lord; her daughter; her mother and family; and her friends, probably with her books, and some Milwaukee’s Bests and Miller Lites.

And we can faith that we will see her again.

Mary Jo is survived by her husband of more than 50 years, Robert W., her son Robert A. (Rob) and his wife Cindy, and her grandson Jack.