Jo Michael, born Josina M. Van Bockel, passed away from metastatic cancer on October 26, 2014, at age 87. Born in Lebanon, South Dakota on July 25th, 1927 to John and Mary (Muilenberg) Van Bockel, Jo was the 5th of 9 children. Jo grew up in Pipestone, Minnesota, during the great depression. She graduated from Pipestone High School and married Allan in 1945. She worked at the Pan-O-Gold Bakery in Pipestone until the first of her four children was born in 1946. In 1959 the family moved to Huron, South Dakota and resided there until 1962, when they moved to Rapid City, where Jo and Al have lived since. After beginning her career as a men's clothier in Huron at Osborn's Clothing for Men and Boys, Jo worked at and then managed the 3 Osborn's stores in Rapid City until they closed for business in 1997 after the death of the owner. She "retired" for 2 months and then found herself back at work at JC Penney in Rapid City in the men's suit department. In a career spanning over 45 years, she fitted suits and clothing for many of the men, college students and boys in Huron and Rapid City until she retired in 2007 at the age of 80. Jo loved her career and profession and she established lifelong friendships with many of her customers. When not measuring an inseam or a collar, Jo raised 4 children and helped put them through high school, college and marriage and was active in the community, either lending a voice to community affairs or campaigning for local government leaders. Although not a traveler at heart, she traveled to many parts of the United States, Europe and Asia to be a part of her children's and grandchildren's lives. Jo had many lifelong friends in the community and spent much of her time in card clubs (bridge and pinochle) with many of her friends until the final months of her life. Jo was an inveterate knitter and over the years made many afghans and dish cloths for family and friends that are now heirlooms for us all. Jo is survived, her husband of 69 years, Allan J. Michael, of Rapid City; 4 children, Rodney (Ellen ) Michael, of Rapid City, Vicki (Allen) Nord, of Rapid City, Douglas (Linda) Michael, of Louisville, KY and Daniel (Judi) Michael, of Rapid City; 3 brothers, John (Marilyn) Van Bockel, of Dallas, TX, Bernard Van Bockel, of Rapid City and Peter Van Bockel, of Rapid City; 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers, Jacob, Henry, Francis and Arie and her sister Helen. Visitation will be from 12:30-2:00 pm on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1630 Rushmore Street in Rapid City. Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church with the Rev. Josh Jones officiating. Burial will be in Mt. View Cemetery in Rapid City. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/