RAPID CITY - Jo Kertzman died peacefully Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008, after a long and courageous fight with cancer. Jo was born in Hitchcock, S.D., on Sept. 6, 1923, to James and Nettie (Poe) Voorhees. She attended 12 years of school in Hitchcock. In May 1941 her family moved to Washington, D.C. During Jo's life she worked at several places: Naval Torpedo Plant, Ellsworth Air Force Base, Central Credit Corps, Catholic Social Services and Bette's Dress Shop. Lou and Jo Kertzman were married June 12, 1948, in Tilford. They were both members of Blessed Sacrament Church where Jo taught catechism and belonged to a woman's Bible study group. Jo enjoyed being active and found time to volunteer for the American Lung Cancer Society and the National Federation of the Blind. Reading was a favorite pastime for her and she enjoyed being with her grandchildren. Jo is survived by her husband, Lou; her children, Luanne Dirks and husband Monte, Brent Kertzman and wife Nora, all of Rapid City, and Lynne Schlottman and husband Dave, Aurora, Colo.; five grandchildren, Michael Dirks, Anne Lamont, Robert Dirks, Matthew Schlottman and Elizabeth Knopick; ten great-grandchildren; one special sister-in-law, Phyllis Kertzman; and one niece, Julie Berkemeier, Cotati, Calif. She was preceded in death by her father, mother, one sister and three brothers. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m., Monday, Aug. 11, at the Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. William Zandri presiding. Inurnment will be at a later date. A memorial has been established for the Juvenile Diabetes Association.