Margaret Jo Anderson began her journey in this life with us in Danville, Illinois on November 3, 1961.  Margaret Jo’s journey ended in Crawfordsville as a resident of the town on June 16, 2018.  Margaret Jo was born the youngest child of six children to Ernest Van and Wintress Anne Engelmann of Oakwood, Illinois.  Margaret Jo grew up in Oakwood and attended public schools there graduating from Oakwood High School in 1979.  Margaret Jo excelled at language arts and later attended Danville Community College on her way to becoming a teacher.

Later, in her journey Margaret Jo met the love of her life, Keith Anderson, and moved to the desert southwest of the United States to West Texas to be with him.  Margaret Jo and Keith were married in Texas on November 14, 1998 and moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico in 2000 for several years before residing in Crawfordsville in 2008.

Margaret Jo had three main areas of interest that were important to her throughout her life which were small children, the elderly and taking care of animals.  Margaret Jo was active in all three of these areas everywhere she lived by teaching preschool, being a home health aid and being involved with many animal rescue organizations all across America.  Many of Crawfordsville’s children will affectionately remember her as “Miss Jo” at Rainbows and Rhymes Preschool and she served on the Montgomery County AWL Board of Directors.

Margaret Jo will be remembered by her family, friends and everyone she came in contact with as a bright, fun, humorous, generous, loving person who never met a stranger and was devoted to her many grandchildren.

Margaret Jo is survived by her husband Keith, father Ernest, siblings Deanna Cavaliere of Charlotte, NC, Sharon Bates of Chillicothe, Il, Sue Fleming of Crawfordsville, Mike Englemann of Oakwood, Il, Mark Engelmann of Danville, Il, children Nathan Bennett of Westville, Il, Anna Bennett of Westville, Il, Samuel Gilkison of Kokomo, In, step children Melissa Harper of Hideaway, TX, Lucas Anderson of Crawfordsville and Travis Anderson of Midland, Tx.  Margaret Jo is also survived by 17 grandchildren and was preceded in death by her mother.

The entire family would like to thank the staff at Franciscan St Elizabeth Health Hospital Crawfordsville and Marie Canine Cancer Center for their excellent, professional and compassionate care of Margaret Jo in her last months, weeks and days.  A celebration of her life will be scheduled later.  In lieu of cards and flowers, donations can be made to the Montgomery County Animal Welfare League.