Wanda "Jo" Golden

Wanda "Jo" Golden was born on January 20, 1928, in Noland, Arkansas.  She was the second oldest of six children born to Darwin and Winnie Ragan.  She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, an aunt and a friend.  She passed away on Friday, October 18, 2019.  Jo was a tomboy and prided herself on going to the fields with Daddy every day to pick cotton.  At age 16, she was stricken with rheumatic fever and spent the next two years in bed.  That was just a pit stop in Jo’s life because her health never deterred her on her lifelong journey until now.  The family transitioned north to Rockford in 1949 and here is where Jo lived out her life.  She met and married James "Bud" Golden and together they had two children... Gary Scott Golden and Tona Shayne Rittweger.  Jo, as she liked to be called, was a stay at home Mom when the kids were little but had varied careers throughout her life.  During the early years, she became an Avon Representative and through this used her creative resources to begin designing lovely lingerie for fashion shows.  She was a beautiful hand seamstress and until a few years ago, still sewed so many beautiful pieces by hand to share amongst her family.  She also was a mainstay in the main Grandma Restaurants in Rockford and Loves Park.  She served as Hostess in both locations and even as few as 5 years ago, still folded silverware in napkins and served coffee for them.  She was known as Momma Jo and was very beloved to employees and customers alike.
Despite many hardships during her life, Jo was a scrappy and tenacious warrior (to quote her nephew).  She persevered through so many bumpy roads, only to hang on and start anew.  Even after losing both her children two years in a row, Jo wanted to live.  She adored her grandson, Brandon, and her great-grandchildren.  She adored her sisters and her brother and many nieces and nephews.  She never forgot anything even at 91.  This last year was really Jo’s last battle and it has lasted for the last six months.  Her healing times became longer and longer and wherever she stayed, in hospital or nursing homes, she was beloved.  She arranged flowers in her wheelchair and bossed her sister, Jan, around whenever she could, telling her ‘the next time you’re at my apartment’ and give her items to find she could give as gifts to her nurses and helpers.  She never had much materially but she had a heart as big as the sky.  As her final act of kindness, in her honor, a bedroom set and various pieces of furniture plus food were donated to a person in need.  This is Wanda Jo’s legacy.

She is predeceased in death by her father and mother, Darwin and Winnie Ragan; her sister, Fonda; and brother-in-law, Ken Lemmons; her brother, Gary; brothers-in-law, John "Happy" Cole and James Lavern; children, Gary Scott Golden and Shayne Golden Rittweger; and former husband, James Bud Golden.  She is survived by her grandson, Brandon (Cari) Kettleson; and great-grandchildren, Brody and Lexi Kettleson; her sisters, Bonnie Cole, Linda (Jack) Ward and Jan Lavern; and her beloved nieces and nephews.  The family wishes to thank East Bank Rehabilitation Center and their whole staff and Generations at Neighbors, special therapists Jenny and Caleb.  Also much gratitude to Jo’s caregivers through these years, Ashley especially and to Dawn and Linda.  We also wish to thank Hospice and their sweet nurses for their care and compassion these last two weeks.

A private special family memorial will be held on Monday, October 21, at Delehanty Funeral Home, Ltd., 401 River Lane, Loves Park.  Jo Golden was loved. 💜