Jo Lanel Cuppy, 50, died at her home in Bronson early Saturday morning, Jan. 10, 2015, after a long battle with cancer. She was born Sept. 12, 1964, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Nelda K. Rudisill Cuppy and A. Gary Cuppy. She is survived by her husband, Walter Palmisano, son Seth Cuppy, stepdaughter Gina Palmisano, grandson Marcus, mother Nelda Cuppy, stepfather Larry Manes, brother Larry Cuppy, niece Cassandra Cuppy, nephew Devon Cuppy, aunts and uncles, and many, many friends.
She graduated from Marmaton Valley High School and earned degrees from Allen County Community College, the University of Kansas and Emporia State University. She and Walter lived in New Orleans for nearly 20 years, where she made jewelry and hats, selling them in the French Market where she made lifelong friends. They moved to Bronson for a better education for Seth in 2003. Jo taught at Marmaton Valley for a year and at Allen County Community College for 11, including classes in English as a Second Language and prep classes for the GED test in addition to mathematics and computer classes.
She loved to knit, read, make stained glass pieces, sew, travel and walk or run with Seth (often walking from Bronson to Moran). She loved her flowers and garden and sharing the produce with others. She loved music and especially enjoyed hearing Seth play the guitar. She had a poem published and wrote a craft book on beadwork. Jo loved animals — especially her cats, which all have interesting names. Jo served on the Bronson Library Board and helped with the Bronson Day celebrations. Friends and coworkers were an extremely important part of her life; she loved her students and coworkers. Friends became adopted family. Exchange student Triet Minh La was a special “son.” She was particularly proud of her accomplishment in running the Charlie Melvin 5K four years and running a half marathon last April. She was happy with her life and always had a smile.
She was preceded in death by her father, Gary “Butch” Cuppy, and her aunt, Ardis Rudisill.
A celebration of life will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Riverside Park Community Building, 510 Park Ave., Iola.
We miss her smile, her energy, her thoughtfulness of others, and most of all, her joy. Memorial gifts to Allen County Animal Rescue Facility may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel in Iola.
To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Jo Cuppy
