RASKO, Josephine K. (1957-2016)

RASKO

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/2/2017 at 01:13:05

Josephine Kay Rasko
(February 2, 1957 - November 23, 2016)

Josephine Kay Rasko (Josie), the daughter of Kenneth Warren and Ruth Pauline Chelar Rasko, was born on February 2, 1957, in Des Moines, Iowa. Josie had cardiac arrest on November 19th, and she passed away peacefully at the age of 59 on November 23, 2016, at Mercy Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa. Josie was the youngest of Kenny and Ruth’s four children, and she grew up in Indianola, Iowa, with siblings Frank Daniel, David Warren, and Kenna Jean. As a child she attended church at Center Chapel Methodist Church. Ruth was a creative and talented seamstress, and the girls always had sweet, matching Easter dresses, sometimes with hats or a parasol. Josie was a pretty young girl with bright eyes and a happy smile, and people often stopped Ruth and commented on how cute she was.
Josie graduated from Indianola High School, where she played the tuba in the band. She is still close to her high school friend, Barb Modlin, and the two of them have enjoyed some great food, conversations and fun since Josie has moved back to Indianola.
After high school Josie completed her degree to be a Licensed Practical Nurse. Later she received her Registered Nurse degree from Mercy School of Health Sciences. Over her long nursing career she worked in four states, and had an incredible understanding of medicine and health care. She could even pronounce and spell the medical terms and long names of drugs.
Josie was married to Anthony Dittmer, and Tony remembers that Jo always wanted to be involved with her family and had many close friends. She looked for new hobbies and many times got him involved. “One day she decided she wanted a Siberian husky, and the first, Tasha, got us started with a mob of huskies. Jo got to know many of the husky breeders around the country. We trained, showed and breed the dogs. Josie’s beloved long-time companion was Brian Jones, and they lived at his Century home in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation near Wanatte, Oklahoma. She and Brian enjoyed their cats, yard and large extended family. Again, she enjoyed the outdoors, large family dinners, learning to cook flatbread and traditional meals, and laughing and fun. Josie became a huge Oklahoma Sooners fan, and followed the football and basketball teams faithfully.
Upon her return to Indianola around 2011, Josie worked at the Hy-Vee Gas Station off of George Mills Parkway in West Des Moines. Her friendly, outgoing nature, and good customer service skills made her a favorite among customers and co-workers. Josie battled various health problems over the last five years, but she carried the dream of living on her own and having a kitty. She was determined, as always, and the last few months of her life, lived in her own apartment with Blue Russian kitten, Fluffy.
Josephine was preceded in death by her father, Kenny, in 1989 and his parents John Rasko and Opal Durham Rasko Swarthout; her mother’s parents, Mathew and Nellie Chelar, her sister Kenna Jean Rasko Danford in 2014, and Brian Jones in 2014. She is survived by her mother, Ruth, brother Frank (Barbara) Rasko with nephews Nathan Rasko (Jama Rockhold, Ashley, Luke and Colby), Aaron Rasko (Kim, Logan and Olivia), brother David, and nephews Don Rasko (Jamie, Canaan, Georgia and Eliot), Devin Rasko (daughters Laurella and Ehlana), Matthew Danford, and Jake Danford (Amanda, Madison and Ava). Also sister-in-law Debbie Rasko, and brother-in-law Danny Danford.
This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, [http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]