Jo An (Ellis) Kammerman

Jo An Ellis Kammerman, 75, passed away peacefully in the presence of her family on Sunday June 6, 2021, following a sudden and tragic illness.

She was born January 10, 1946 in Long Beach, California. She grew up in Hanover, New Jersey, graduated from Hanover Park High School (Class of 1964), and attended Patterson State College. She met her future husband, John Charles Kammerman, while in Escondido, California caring for her grandmother, Montess B. Francis. They were married in August 1965 in Oakland, California and together raised a family of seven children.

Jo An was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 10 and remained a faithful member of the church her entire life.  Attending church was important to her.  She prayed and read the scriptures daily and shared her love of the Savior through word and deed.  She embodied the words found in James 1:27:  “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Jo An was a devoted, dedicated, and loving mother, and instinctively knew how best to reach each of her children and support them. She was an amazing grandmother and was lovingly adored by her 35 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.  She knew their likes and dislikes and would visit them often. On birthdays, she treated them to their favorite ice cream and showered them with love and affection.

Jo An was a creative soul. She played the piano beautifully, performed at the historical Hill Cumorah Pageant in New York, and led the children’s choir as a beloved church chorister.  She loved to attend plays, concerts, and musical performances, especially when her children or grandchildren were performing. Wherever she moved, she made the home beautiful with her gift for decorating, her delicious cooking, her love of music, and her capacity to love. She was a prolific writer, always penning handwritten notes and letters to family members near and far from home.

Jo An loved the United States of America and the freedoms her country represents.  She was proud of her family members that served in the military and she regularly attended a yearly Veterans Day concert at the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.  For Jo An, voting was a sacred duty and privilege.

Jo An had a special way of feeding the body and the soul. She recognized when others were struggling or suffering since she, too, had overcome many struggles in her life. She was always quick to comfort the sick or lonely, and make a signature meal for them, all the time selflessly putting their needs above her own. Her heart and soul were filled with unlimited compassion for all, whether or not their life choices coincided with hers.  If we had one Jo An for every community, there would be a lot less lonely, forgotten, and hungry people.

Jo An will be affectionately missed.

In lieu of flowers, please perform a simple act of service or donate to Tabitha’s Way Food Pantry: https://tabithasway.org/donate/

Jo An was preceded in death by her devoted husband, John Kammerman; her son, Joseph; her mother and father, John and June Brimhall (Clark) Ellis; sister Jean Elizabeth Tanner; brother Craig Alan Ellis; and grandchildren Emily Kammerman, Reesa Kammerman, and Catherine McNeece.

She is survived by children Beverly [Dan McNeece], Eric [Michele], Michael [Keri], Aaron [Patricia] Jill [Andrew Gifford], Rebecca, and Stephen; 35 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; siblings Gary Steven Ellis of Driggs, ID; Dean Clark Ellis and his wife Lisa of Hauula, HI; Keith Andrew Ellis of Henderson, NV; John Henry Ellis and his wife Shirley of Bremerton, WA;  and a dear sister-in-law Molly Ellis of Easton, PA - wife of her deceased brother Craig Alan Ellis.

Public Viewing:

Monday, June 14th at 7:00-8:00 pm

Wheeler Mortuary

211 E 200 S, Springville, UT 84663

Graveside Service:

Tuesday, June 15th at 10:00 am

Provo City Cemetery

610 S State St, Provo, UT 84606

Services are available to view for those unable to attend in person at https://www.facebook.com/sundbergolpinfuneralhome/videos/4042656539135159