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Hanna Jo Kyhl
Hanna Jo Kyhl
Ottumwa
Hanna Jo T. Kyhl, of Ottumwa, died at 5:05 a.m. February 8, 2026 at Vista Woods Care Center.
She was born July 1, 1937 in Cedar Rapids to Rudolph and Helen Tecklenburg. She was an enthusiastic ice skater, attended McKinley High, and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in home economics.
Jo married John Palmer Kyhl in April 1959. They moved to Minneapolis where they lived on Lake Minnetonka. Her early professional roles included running the early childhood laboratory school at Macalester College where she earned her degree in elementary education.
The family settled in Ottumwa in 1971. Jo began her career with Indian Hills Community College in 1976, managing adult and continuing education programs spanning a wide range of topics. Her work had an emphasis on empowering women, and through her continued leadership, influenced generations of professionals across southeast Iowa whose skills continue to benefit the region today. She retired in 1999.
She volunteered for many community organizations. She was the Chair of the Ottumwa Regional Hospital Board, served on the Meridian Credit Union and Ottumwa Transit boards, and was a hospice volunteer. She judged culinary and fabric categories at many county fairs and the Iowa State Fair. Jo was an avid reader, gardener, designer, weaver, knitter, and an accomplished creator of fabric arts.
Surviving are her children, Juliana (Jim) Clark of Seattle, WA, Victoria (Robert) Stephen of Burke, VA and John (Jennifer) Kyhl of Mounds View, MN; 6 grandchildren, Kyhl (Emily Zinger) Stephen, Sully (Marta Levkova) Clark, Ian (Alexandra Lepecha) Stephen, Sydney Clark, Graham Kyhl and Rowan Kyhl; a great-grandson, August Stephen Zinger; and a large extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Memorial services will be 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at Reece Funeral Home with Pastor Mel Kendall officiating.
The family will be present to greet friends one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Care Initiative Hospice or Heartland Humane Society.
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