Joanna K. Dall, age 86 of Morris, died Friday, November 26, 2021 at her home. Born August 27, 1935 in Cincinnati, she is the daughter of Melania (Nee: Eifert) and Fred Pelzer. She graduated high school at 16 and was working as a secretary at 18 when she met “The guy with the curly hair and new car.” Eventually Jo and Anthony Dall Sr. were married January 15, 1955 at St. Jerome’s Church in Cincinnati. A homemaker, Jo stayed busy with other jobs. After her marriage and “moving to the country” she continued to work as a secretary for the Ripley County Courthouse, Margaret Mary Hospital and Dall’s Service.
Jo’s large family kept her busy attending school functions and activities. The family told the story of her being a football mom from 1971 – 1989, where each of those years she had a son on the Batesville football team and never missed a game. She was a motivational speaker for Overeaters Anonymous and at the age of 65 earned an Associates degree. Jo was an artist, photographer and writer as well as seamstress and a prolific crocheter. Her handywork will be available at the funeral home and attendees are encouraged to take pieces home as a memento. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella and the St. Anthony’s Ladies Auxiliary, serving many years as an officer of both, the St. Anthony’s Bingo committee and the long time Director of Religious Education for the church. A long-standing tradition her family loved was Jo reciting “Twas the Night Before Christmas” each year from memory.
She is survived by her daughters Barb (Bill) Hoots of St. Paul, Minnesota, Cecelia Taulbee of Batesville; sons Gregory (Deb) Dall of New Richmond, Indiana, Mark (Kimberly) Dall of Batesville, Richard (Theresa) Dall of Cantonment, Florida, Paul (Brenda) Dall of Greensburg, Fred (Gladys) Dall of Morris, John Dall of Brownsburg, Indiana, Pete (Karen) Dall of Muncie, Indiana, Tony (Sarah) Dall of Charlotte, North Carolina, Phil (Neira) Dall of Indianapolis; sisters Mary Germann of Cincinnati, Mary Jean Trageser of Chattanooga, Tennessee; brothers Fred Pelzer of Portland, Oregon, Bill Pelzer of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chris Pelzer; 25 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she is also preceded in death by sister Melanie Esselman and brother John Pelzer.
Visitation is Tuesday, November 30th, from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home. Funeral services are 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 1st at St. Anthony’s Church with burial in the church cemetery. The family requests memorials to the Daughters of Isabella. For online condolences go to www.weigelfh.com.