8/30/2021 1:28:00 PM Memorial service for Sally Knapp Jestus planned at Woodlawn
Sally Jo (Knapp) Jestus passed away Aug. 23, 2021 in Cookeville, Tennessee.
She was born Feb. 28, 1943 in Portland, Oregon where her parents, Joseph Ellis Knapp and Sarah Jane (Kenny) relocated from Minnesota to join the war effort. In 1946, they moved back to Minnesota eventually settling in Stewartville in1958 where Sally spent her high school days as the principal's daughter, cheerleading, and playing in the band. She met her husband, James R. Jestus, a year her senior, in band practice and they continued their friendship in the summers when Sally would bring lemonade to Jim while he mowed the cemetery lawn near their houses. She graduated Stewartville High School in 1961 and attended the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
On Dec. 16, 1961, Sally and Jim married in Stewartville and began their life together as married students in university housing. Sally supported the family working at Honeywell and babysitting while Jim finished college. In 1965, they went back to their hometown with their two sons. After the birth of their daughter in 1966, Jim transferred with IBM and so began a journey that would take them to Raleigh, Nnorth Carolina, Burnsville, Holliston, Massachusettes, Fairport, New York, and eventually settling in Crystal Lake, Illinois in 1976. While Sally's main focus was raising their children, she graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1984 with an elementary education degree. She taught for a year, was a substitute, worked with her husband, and earned her real estate license. However, she liked to say she was in the grand-parenting business. Long hours, no pay, but great fun!
Sally loved visiting with her ever-growing family, reading history and non-fiction, trivia night, logic puzzles, sewing, cooking, and the Vikings. Her travels took her from Paris to the Swiss Alps to Germany, Ireland and England and she visited nearly every state. In November 2019, Sally and Jim moved south to Gallatin, Tennessee to be near family.
Sally will be missed by her three children, James R. Jestus (Carol Falkenberg) of Huntley, Illinois, Dr. Joseph A. Jestus (Sandra West) of Cookeville, Tennessee, and daughter, Jane LoSchiavo (Sal) of Gallatin, Tennessee. She will be remembered lovingly by her adoring grandchildren, James R. Jestus III and Katherine Jestus of Huntley, Illinois, Joseph E. Jestus, esq, Denver, Colorado, Annie Jestus of Atlanta, Georgia, Jane Jestus of Austin, Texas, Jack Jestus of Cookeville, Tennessee, Dr. Nicholas LoSchiavo (Molly Allred) of Charlottesville, Virginia, Alexander LoSchiavo of New York City, and Zachary LoSchiavo of, Knoxville, Tennessee; and her great-grandchildren, Maximilian and Callie LoSchiavo of Charlottesville, Virginia.
She will forever be remembered as Silly Sal by many nieces, nephews and friends.
Sally was preceded in death by her husband, James R Jestus in March of 2021, her parents, Joseph E. Knapp and Sarah Jane (Kenny), her sisters, Sheila Jane Fowler, Sandra Jean Knapp, and brother-in-law, George W. Hogshead, and her grandson, Maximilian James LoSchiavo.
Sally and Jim will be going home to Stewartville to be laid to rest together in Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery. A memorial service will be planned at a later date.
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