Jo Ellen (Helland) Newman

Jo Ellen (Helland) Newman age 72 of Morris passed away on Thursday, December 1, 2022 in Peoria with her loving family by her side.
She was born on April 20, 1950 in Ottawa, Il to Allen and Jeanette (Roberts) Helland. She was raised on a farm in Nettle Creek Township, was educated at Nettle Creek Grade School and she graduated from Morris Community High School with the class of 1968. She was a lifelong member of Stavanger Lutheran Church where she and Leo served as chairperson of the kitchen committee for the Annual Scandinavian program for many years. She worked her entire working career in health care. She began working at the “Poor Farm”/Grundy County Home caring for others as a Nurse’s Aide. As the county built the new facility, she assisted to move the people in and continued to work as a CNA and a Certified Rehab Therapist at the Grundy County Nursing Home. She worked there until she retired in 2005 after having given 40 years of service to the community. Jo was always a giving person and she loved to cook and bake. She always made one for herself and had plenty to share. She often made meals just to give away. She volunteered for ten years with Meals on Wheels.
She loved her family fiercely and was often referred to as “another mother” to her many nieces and nephews. As a young woman Jo enjoyed traveling with her nieces, nephews, cousins, and their families. She was proud that her best friend’s child was named after her. She met the love of her life, Leo and they married on July 14, 1992. Along with Leo, she was blessed with a beautiful family. She and Leo enjoyed vacationing with cousins and siblings as well. They enjoyed camping over the years and traveled to many states, but Disney World was her favorite place. In more recent years they enjoyed spending time camping at their summer resort home in Three Lakes, Wisconsin where they frequently entertained their daughter and grandchildren.
Jo is survived by her loving husband Leo, her daughter Tammy (Kurt Meger) Kjellesvik of Morris, granddaughter Alyna (Luke) Holliday of Seneca, grandson Jake Kjellesvik of Morris and she was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first great-grandchild, baby Holliday. She is also survived by her sisters Susan Knott of Morris, Barbara (Danny) Hoffman of Morris, brothers David Helland of Joliet and Paul Helland of Atlanta, GA. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
She was preceded in death by her son-in-law Greg Kjellesvik, granddaughter Makayla Kjellesvik, her parents, a sister Betty Jane in infancy, brother Mark “Beef” Helland and her niece Sabrina Slater.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Stavanger Lutheran Church with Rev. Philip Peterson officiating. Interment will follow in Stavanger Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service at the church.
Fruland Funeral Home, 121 W. Jefferson St. in Morris is in charge of arrangements. For more information, call the funeral home at 815-942-0700 or sign the online guestbook at www.frulandfuneralhome.com .