JoAnn Hager Williams

JoAnn “Jo” Williams, 91, of Salina, Kansas, passed away October 26, 2026, at her home. She was born June 23, 1934, on a farm in Rice County, the daughter of Luther T. Hager Jr. and wife Laura L. Steinman. Jo was the oldest of five daughters. She attended Banner School and graduated from the 8th grade. Jo was confirmed at Emanuel Lutheran Church. She worked on the farm as she grew older and cleaned house for her Aunt Mary. Jo often spoke very highly of her great-grandmother, Hattie Hager whom she was named after. Her grandfather, Wallace gave Jo her first guitar when she was eleven. She taught herself by practicing her cords and dreamed of being a country western singer. Her family was very musical and played for dances in Rice and Barton County. She married early in life and joined the Catholic Church in Great Bend. Her family moved to Colorado in 1958. She went to work for the “Sister’s Charity” in 1962 at St. Patrick and St. Therese. She played the guitar for masses at Assumption Church and St. John’s Hospital in Pueblo. Jo attended Dale Carnegie and received her GED from Centennial High School. She moved back to Kansas in 1975 and worked for Town Pump and Certain-Teed until 1985. She then moved to Salina in 1998 and retired from Tony’s Pizza after fourteen years. She loved camping, fishing and talking about her great-grandmother, Hattie, and her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also would talk of how her God had found her as a child while growing up. She is preceded in death by her parents; Luther and Laura Hager; four siblings, John Hager, Betty Rush, Wilma Hager, and Gloria Hager; two grandsons; Lawrence Kochis and Russel Williams. She is survived by her children, Ann Byrd, Allan Williams, John Williams and Jeanine Guirdy; sister, Alice Marlene Flasschoen; five grandsons; one granddaughter; three great-grandsons; four great-granddaughters; and many nephews and nieces. Visitation will be from 11:30 until 12:30 P.M., Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons. Graveside service will be at 1:00 P.M., at Lyons Municipal Cemetery, with Father Bob Pinninti officiating. Memorials may be given to an animal shelter of donor’s choice in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons, Kansas

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