Dr. Jo Ann Margaret Loeffler Sims, 72, of Norfolk, Va., formerly of Peoria, passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2014, at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Jo Ann was a vivacious and talented musician, a dedicated teacher and a devoted wife, stepmother, sister and friend.
A native of Belleville, Ill., Jo Ann made her home in Norfolk in 1994 as she joined the music faculty of Old Dominion University, where she served as a senior lecturer in voice and chief departmental advisor until her retirement. She previously held faculty positions at Bradley University, the University of Memphis, the University of Mississippi and Cleveland State University.
Jo Ann was a longtime member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing who inspired her students to become great performers by instilling in them the values of persistence and hard work. Jo Ann was a gifted mezzo-soprano vocalist who performed both as a soloist and with numerous opera companies, symphonies and ensembles throughout the U.S. and in Europe.
She earned a doctor of musical arts in vocal performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she also completed her undergraduate and master's studies.
Jo Ann was a passionate advocate for the humane treatment of all animals, and will be dearly missed by her dogs, Winifred and Tigger.
Jo Ann fought multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years and stubbornly refused to let it win. Her family is eternally grateful to Karen Stewart, her home health-care assistant, for the decade of care, friendship and dignity that she tirelessly provided.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Henry P. and Marie Loeffler, both of Belleville, Ill.
She is survived by her loving husband, Dr. John Taylor Sims Jr. of Norfolk; stepsons, John T. Sims III of Houston, Michael J. Sims of Dallas, Christopher A. Sims of Austin, Texas, and Blane E. Sims of Chicago; brothers, Henry M. Loeffler and Ronald L. Loeffler, of Belleville, Ill.; and sister, Kathy Beckemeyer of Carlyle, Ill.
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 6, at Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 560 W. Olney Road, Norfolk, with the Rev. Canon Win Lewis officiating. Following the service, Jo Ann was laid to rest in the Columbarium at the church.
Jo Ann was a vivacious and talented musician, a dedicated teacher and a devoted wife, stepmother, sister and friend.
A native of Belleville, Ill., Jo Ann made her home in Norfolk in 1994 as she joined the music faculty of Old Dominion University, where she served as a senior lecturer in voice and chief departmental advisor until her retirement. She previously held faculty positions at Bradley University, the University of Memphis, the University of Mississippi and Cleveland State University.
Jo Ann was a longtime member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing who inspired her students to become great performers by instilling in them the values of persistence and hard work. Jo Ann was a gifted mezzo-soprano vocalist who performed both as a soloist and with numerous opera companies, symphonies and ensembles throughout the U.S. and in Europe.
She earned a doctor of musical arts in vocal performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she also completed her undergraduate and master's studies.
Jo Ann was a passionate advocate for the humane treatment of all animals, and will be dearly missed by her dogs, Winifred and Tigger.
Jo Ann fought multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years and stubbornly refused to let it win. Her family is eternally grateful to Karen Stewart, her home health-care assistant, for the decade of care, friendship and dignity that she tirelessly provided.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Henry P. and Marie Loeffler, both of Belleville, Ill.
She is survived by her loving husband, Dr. John Taylor Sims Jr. of Norfolk; stepsons, John T. Sims III of Houston, Michael J. Sims of Dallas, Christopher A. Sims of Austin, Texas, and Blane E. Sims of Chicago; brothers, Henry M. Loeffler and Ronald L. Loeffler, of Belleville, Ill.; and sister, Kathy Beckemeyer of Carlyle, Ill.
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 6, at Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 560 W. Olney Road, Norfolk, with the Rev. Canon Win Lewis officiating. Following the service, Jo Ann was laid to rest in the Columbarium at the church.
Dr. Jo Ann Margaret Loeffler Sims, 72, of Norfolk, Va., formerly of Peoria, passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2014, at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Jo Ann was a vivacious and talented musician, a dedicated teacher and a devoted wife, stepmother, sister and friend.
A native of Belleville, Ill., Jo Ann made her home in Norfolk in 1994 as she joined the music faculty of Old Dominion University, where she served as a senior lecturer in voice and chief departmental advisor until her retirement. She previously held faculty positions at Bradley University, the University of Memphis, the University of Mississippi and Cleveland State University.
Jo Ann was a longtime member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing who inspired her students to become great performers by instilling in them the values of persistence and hard work. Jo Ann was a gifted mezzo-soprano vocalist who performed both as a soloist and with numerous opera companies, symphonies and ensembles throughout the U.S. and in Europe.
She earned a doctor of musical arts in vocal performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she also completed her undergraduate and master's studies.
Jo Ann was a passionate advocate for the humane treatment of all animals, and will be dearly missed by her dogs, Winifred and Tigger.
Jo Ann fought multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years and stubbornly refused to let it win. Her family is eternally grateful to Karen Stewart, her home health-care assistant, for the decade of care, friendship and dignity that she tirelessly provided.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Henry P. and Marie Loeffler, both of Belleville, Ill.
She is survived by her loving husband, Dr. John Taylor Sims Jr. of Norfolk; stepsons, John T. Sims III of Houston, Michael J. Sims of Dallas, Christopher A. Sims of Austin, Texas, and Blane E. Sims of Chicago; brothers, Henry M. Loeffler and Ronald L. Loeffler, of Belleville, Ill.; and sister, Kathy Beckemeyer of Carlyle, Ill.
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 6, at Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 560 W. Olney Road, Norfolk, with the Rev. Canon Win Lewis officiating. Following the service, Jo Ann was laid to rest in the Columbarium at the church.
Jo Ann was a vivacious and talented musician, a dedicated teacher and a devoted wife, stepmother, sister and friend.
A native of Belleville, Ill., Jo Ann made her home in Norfolk in 1994 as she joined the music faculty of Old Dominion University, where she served as a senior lecturer in voice and chief departmental advisor until her retirement. She previously held faculty positions at Bradley University, the University of Memphis, the University of Mississippi and Cleveland State University.
Jo Ann was a longtime member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing who inspired her students to become great performers by instilling in them the values of persistence and hard work. Jo Ann was a gifted mezzo-soprano vocalist who performed both as a soloist and with numerous opera companies, symphonies and ensembles throughout the U.S. and in Europe.
She earned a doctor of musical arts in vocal performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she also completed her undergraduate and master's studies.
Jo Ann was a passionate advocate for the humane treatment of all animals, and will be dearly missed by her dogs, Winifred and Tigger.
Jo Ann fought multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years and stubbornly refused to let it win. Her family is eternally grateful to Karen Stewart, her home health-care assistant, for the decade of care, friendship and dignity that she tirelessly provided.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Henry P. and Marie Loeffler, both of Belleville, Ill.
She is survived by her loving husband, Dr. John Taylor Sims Jr. of Norfolk; stepsons, John T. Sims III of Houston, Michael J. Sims of Dallas, Christopher A. Sims of Austin, Texas, and Blane E. Sims of Chicago; brothers, Henry M. Loeffler and Ronald L. Loeffler, of Belleville, Ill.; and sister, Kathy Beckemeyer of Carlyle, Ill.
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 6, at Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 560 W. Olney Road, Norfolk, with the Rev. Canon Win Lewis officiating. Following the service, Jo Ann was laid to rest in the Columbarium at the church.
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