On Sunday, August 14th, 2022, Jo Anne Cassell, loving wife and mother, passed away peacefully at the age of 85.

Born on June 12th, 1937 in Omaha, Nebraska, she was the daughter of Jack and Lorene Jensen. The family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where she spent her childhood years and enrolled at Northeast High School where she was very active in drama and debate team and performed in many high school theatrical productions.  Following her high school graduation, she attended University of Oklahoma where she received her Bachelor of Science in 1959. She later received her Masters of Science from TWU in 1970, and ultimately, her Doctorate of Philosophy from TWU in December of 2000.

Jo Anne was mother to two sons, Steven and David by her first marriage to James Fairchild in 1959. She later re-married on November 29th, 1975 and with Fred Cassell, enjoyed 45 years of love, life, and marriage together.

Among the many trips she and Fred took together, they especially loved traveling to England, Ireland and Norway. She and Fred were both active in the Denton Community Theater and performed in numerous productions at the Campus Theater. She worked in private practice as a nutrition consultant for government, industry, and health care facilities. She also served as President of the New Jersey Dietetic Association, was a reviewer for the American Dietetic Association journal and won the Outstanding Nutritionist of New Jersey from the New Jersey Nutrition Council in 1995. She also served as the editor for the "Topics in Nutrition" journal for many years before returning to TWU to finish her PhD. Her passion for history, writing and research coupled with her keen intellect and eye for detail resulted in the authoring of books, editing of articles, extensive research of family history and her work as lecturer and advisor at TWU.

She was also an active member of her church and community.  In 1982, she was appointed to the General Assembly Task Force on Central America and visited Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica to interview local leaders and help the church better understand human rights and missionary support in those countries and to examine the complex relationship of the Christian church alongside United States foreign policy. They reported their findings to the General Assembly the next year, and ultimately presented their report directly to President Reagan in the White House.

She was a loving wife, sister, mother and grandmother, preceded in death by her husband Fred, her brothers Jack Jensen and Dick Jensen and step-daughter Judith Tobler. She is survived by her brother Rex Jensen and her two children Steven and David, step-children Susan and John; daughters-in-law Sandra and Aida; Grandchildren: Ryan Fairchild, Stephanie Morrison, Heather Riddle, Sarah Wirthlin, Justin Cassell, Anna Kaelin, Taylor Ludwig, Alison Harber, Robert Kaelin, Joseph Kaelin, and Katherine Tobler.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that in consideration of the many service and charitable organizations she supported, please make a donation in Jo Anne's name to the charity of your choice.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 15th, 2022 at Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church at 11:00 AM.