JoAnn Larson
Family Service Assistant
JoAnn is a lifelong resident of Plum City, WI. She was raised on a dairy farm among the beautiful hills of Pierce County, where she attended St. John’s Catholic School in Plum City and High School in Elmwood, WI. JoAnn has always had a passion for helping others and being ‘the one’ that friends and family looked to for a listening ear, help with a project, or support in difficult times. JoAnn’s jobs over the years reflect her compassion and willingness to help. She has worked as a CNA, Head Start bus driver, Head Start Teacher and Home Visit Teacher. She retired in 2022 from a nearly 25 year career working for Pierce County Human Services in the Children Youth and Families Unit, where she worked directly with families in crisis or in transition, offering resources, home visits, and guidance helping families to overcome tough issues together as a family.
She and her husband, Bob, own Bo-Jo’s Creations in Ellsworth. Their shop specializes in creative floral designs for funerals, weddings, and personal celebrations as well as decorated cakes and desserts for weddings and all occasions. They have had their cake shop since 1984, and the flower shop since 1997, which is where JoAnn was introduced to the funeral industry. With her many years of experience working with people, it was very natural for her to want to help families in their time of need. After her retirement, she began working at the Funeral Home part time and enjoys meeting and greeting families and friends, and offering assistance to the directors and staff of the funeral home.
JoAnn loves spending time with her family. With 6 grown children, 12 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren, there always seems to be something exciting to attend, or just be able to find time to visit and enjoy time together. Travel is one of her passions. Tropical beaches and the woods are two of her favorite places to be. Her collection of seashells, rocks, driftwood and geodes will attest to the fact that she loves nature and being out in God’s beautiful world. JoAnn is very involved and active in Wisconsin Special Olympics, as her daughter Briana is an athlete in the program. She and Bob are active in the music ministry of St. John’s Catholic Church in Plum City, spending time with their Saint Bernards Romeo and Juliet, and of course, working side by side creating in their in-home cake shop and Ellsworth flower shop.