Jo Ann (Jodi) Pielsticker (81) of Tulsa, OK went to be with her Lord on August 17, 2016 in Tulsa after a short fight with cancer. She was born on April 29, 1935 in Kansas City, MO to Ermyntrude May "Pat" Lessig and adopted by Doris Oneida Shaffer and Lawrence Russell Sheldon of Tulsa. She married John Robert (Bob) Pielsticker on March 10, 1956 in Riverside, CA. Jodi and Bob celebrated their 60th anniversary this year.
She was preceded in death by her mother, May "Pat" Lessig Lindquist; parents, Doris and Lawrence Sheldon; brother, Bill Sheldon; son, John Christopher Pielsticker; and grandson, Shelby Pielsticker. She is survived by her husband, Bob; three children--Cathey Colburn (Steve), Bill Pielsticker (Sarah), and Bobby Pielsticker (Beth); eight grandchildren--Rebecca Colburn Johnson (Blake), Shea, Peyton, and Michael Pielsticker, Chelsea and Robbie Colburn, Zach and Jarrod Pielsticker; great-grandchild, Crew Johnson; brothers--Jon Linquist of Brookville, KS and Jim Lindquist of Giltner, NE; and cousin Mary Tecumseh Scott (Roger) of Dallas, TX.
Jodi attended Barnard ES, Wilson MS and Central HS in Tulsa. Her college studies included semesters at both Oklahoma A&M and University of California at Berkeley. At age 40, she graduated nursing school at Tulsa Junior College. She worked at Saint Francis Hospital pediatric floor and at Kanakuk Kamps for several summers as a nurse. She was passionate for social justice organizations volunteering at Neighbor for Neighbor and as a founding member of the Task Force for Battered Women, a predecessor to DVIS.
Jodi was an athlete, playing soccer, biking and even baseball as her fast arm was good enough for the boys team. She was a cheerleader at Tulsa Central HS. As an adult, she loved water skiing and spending time at the Pielsticker house on Grand Lake with family and friends. She played racquetball at the Thornton Y and golf at SHCC.
She loved animals, raising rabbits, cats, dogs, and horses and even secretly cared for a coyote in her Aunt's attic as a teenager. Jodi's talents included painting, drawing, gardening and sewing. She always had projects in process. She was beloved by her grandchildren and was always involved with their activities and events.
Jodi accepted Christ as a young camper at Camp Wocilia. She was a longtime member at Church of the Resurrection. She served as a pre-school Bible-study teacher and youth director for junior and senior high students. She was a member of Serra Club and DAR. She taught her children and grandchildren to serve by example, whether it was working at Neighbor for Neighbor, feeding the homeless, volunteering at DVIS or helping her neighbors.
Jodi located her birth mom, "Granny Pat," age 94 years, in 2004. This discovery of her mother brought closure in her heart for finding her roots. She delighted in the love from a brand new Lindquist family centered in Brookville, Kansas. Her lineage includes individuals on the Mayflower. She found great joy in her membership to DAR and Daughters of the Mayflower. She was honored by being on the cover of the Catholic Charities magazine as a poster child for adoption. Her mother's decision was responsible for 13 lives!
Jodi never knew a stranger and had the gift of opening the hearts of everyone that she met. She was the glue of the Pielsticker family and will be greatly missed! There is much relief that she is not suffering pain, and joy that she is with family and Jesus in Heaven.
A scripture service will be at Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church on Wednesday, August 24 at 7 p.m. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Thursday, August 25 at 10 a.m.
Gifts in memory of Jo Ann Pielsticker can be made to Porta Caeli House at Catholic Charities.