Josephine Elizabeth "Jo" Rice, 103, of Kendallville, Indiana died Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at her residence surrounded by her family.
She was born March 15, 1922, in Attica, Indiana to John and Elizabeth (Synesael) Koekenberg. In 1938, she married John Webster Rice. He preceded her in death in 1974.
Jo worked at the Attica Restaurant in Attica, Bowl-Away Lanes in Ligonier, Monsanto in
Ligonier, and retired from Dana Corporation in Churubusco as an inspector.
She attended New Hope Baptist Church in rural Kendallville.
Surviving are a daughter-in-law and her husband who she lived with, Linda and Gary Wade of Kendallville; four grandchildren, Jona (William) Johnson of El Paso, Illinois, Randi Lynn Rice of Ligonier, Megan (Ron) Dawson of Kendallville, and Aaron (Julie) Wade of Kendallville; 12 great-grandchildren, Ashley, Brandon, Kassidy, Lincoln, Austin, Jace, Wade, Jaron, Ashton, Bella, Jeremiah, and Deacon; and three great great-grandchildren, Leyton, Atlas, Melody, and one due in October.
She was also preceded in death by three sons, Vernon Eugene Rice, John Glen Rice, and Larry Lee Rice; a granddaughter, Kristy Crawford; a grandson, Ryan Lee Rice; two sisters, Mary Ellen Brooks and Zeta Mae Stetler; and a brother, Bernard Koekenberg.
Visitation will be Monday, July 28, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Young Family Funeral Home, 222 South State Street, Kendallville. Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Maus Funeral Home, 704 South Council Street, Attica, Indiana, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Robert Boston of New Hope Baptist Church in Kendallville will officiate. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Attica.
Memorials may be directed to New Hope Baptist Church, 2900 N 500 E, Kendallville, Indiana, 46755.