Wilma Josephine Kinsman

Wilma Josephine Kinsman

Wilma Josephine "Jo" Kinsman nee Copeland was born on December 20, 1922 in Beaver City, Nebraska. She was the third of five children born to Joe and Mae Copeland. She departed this life on August 9, 2023.

Jo graduated from Beaver City High School with the class of 1941.  She married her high school sweetheart Ray L. Kinsman on May 10, 1941.  The pair was too young by law to marry in Nebraska, so they crossed state lines in order to wed in Kansas. Their union lasted nearly 60 years. The young couple moved to Michigan with Ray's family where their daughter Rozanne was born.  After Ray was discharged from the Army, the family moved to Long Beach, California where their son Mark was born.

Along with being a full-time wife and mother, Jo worked for the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Upon retirement, Jo and Ray moved to a golf community in Mesa, Arizona where they enjoyed golf, happy hour and traveling around the USA with their friends. They returned to Long Beach, California in 2000 when Ray became ill.

Jo's hobbies included needlepoint, knitting, crocheting and square dancing.  Each Christmas Jo would make a special holiday decoration for every member of her family and close friends.  She also made knitted caps that were worn under the helmets of members of the military.  She enjoyed monthly get-togethers with her friends in their "out to lunch bunch" group.

Jo, also known as GGK, was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother.  She will be remembered for her sense of dignity, humor, class and kindness.

Jo was preceded in death by her husband Ray and her grandson Greg Brown.

She leaves behind her daughter Rozanne and her husband Bob; her son Mark and his wife Patty, five grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Memorial service will be held at Luyben Dilday Mortuary, Long Beach, California on Saturday, September 23rd at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to the Ronald McDonald House.