116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Jo Ann Shumaker
Jo Ann Shumaker
Cedar Rapids
Jo Ann Shumaker, age 84, longtime resident of Cedar Rapids, passed away, surrounded by her family, on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Hospital, Cedar Rapids.
Jo Ann was born on January 20, 1942, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to parents Wayne and Adria (Lease) Berkshire. Upon graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School, she married her love, James Shumaker, on June 12, 1960, and together they began their 66-year adventure. The couple located to Cedar Rapids where Jim was employed as an engineer at Collins Radio, later, Rockwell-Collins. Jo Ann delighted in her role as homemaker and mother of four children, three boys and a girl (lost at birth). Jo, as she was known to friends and family, excelled as wife, mother, housekeeper, cook, gardener, interior decorator, medic, scout leader and teacher to her rambunctious boys and husband. A true matriarch, she loved hosting holiday family gatherings and enjoyed antiquing, reading, traveling, hiking trails and was an expert cook and gardener. In her retirement years, she enjoyed visits from her grandchildren and days of aimless wandering and adventures with Jim.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her daughter Elaine, son Todd, her parents and sister, Janet. She is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband, Jim, sons, Aaron (Sarah) and Brian (Danise), four grandchildren, two nieces and a nephew.
According to her wish, Jo Ann’s ashes will be scattered upon her favorite nature trails so she may forever wander them. There will be no service, but a private family remembrance will be held later. Those wishing to commemorate Jo Ann please donate to your favorite charity.
Daily Newsletters