Theresa Jeanette Senn

Jo Senn, 81, died Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at the John F. Keever, Jr. Hospice Solace Center. She was born on March 5, 1934, the daughter of Clayton and Catherine Merow Brothers in Lead, South Dakota. She was baptized on March 29, 1934 in Lead, South Dakota and was confirmed on September 25, 1955 at Holy Sacrament Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon. She attended Portland Schools and while living there, she met and married John "Jack" Senn who was employed by the Federal Department of the Interior. They had three sons, resided in East Oregon, and then in Anchorage, Alaska where they lived for twelve years. In 1984, Jack's work took the family to Washington, DC, where they became active members of the St. John's Church in Alexandria. Then, another move took the family to Denver, Colorado where Jo worked for Hospice of Metro Denver. The family lived there until her husband's death in in 1986. Soon thereafter, Jo returned to the Northern Virginia area and was employed by Foxhall Internists in D.C. Upon retirement, she moved to her new home in Asheville, NC where she became very active in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church with Leisurites, Altar Guild, and more recently, as church treasurer. Jo Senn was predeceased by her husband, John Zanker Senn and more recently by her son, Matthew Senn. She is survived by two sons and their wives, Michael Senn and Bonnie of Raymond, Maine, and Steven Senn and Susan from Jacksonville, Florida. Her grandson, Lucas Senn Crocker and wife Heather live in Anchorage, Alaska with Jo's three great grandchildren, Noah, Kenai, and Cecilia. Jo leaves behind four sisters, Judith Blair (Sun City West, AZ), Eileen Landers (Rapid City, SD), Toni Wiederich and Norman (Black Hawk, SD), and Patty Ragsdale/Ron (Castle Rock, CO). She also leaves two brothers, Walter Brothers and Darlene (Flint, Michigan) and Gerald Brothers and Judy (Rapid City, SD), as well as numerous nieces and nephews, dear friends in her church, and neighborhood, and dear friends from places wherever she has lived. Jo's most beloved verse from the Bible is Psalm 118:24: "This is the Day the Lord Has Made, Let Us Rejoice and Be Glad In it." This Psalm represents a time in her life when she was most stricken with grief, feeling alone and without spirtual support. It was presented to her in her loneliest moment and to this day, it has reassured her of the constant love and presence of the Lord as her Guardian and Savior. Her family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Sunday at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Asheville, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m., also at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. The Rev. Dr. Michael McFarland will officiate. Interment will be June 4 at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, OR. Memorials may be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 51 Wilburn Pl., Asheville, NC 28806. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.