Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
ROBERTS, Jo Ann Bennis
ROBERTS, Jo Ann Bennis. (Lincoln, IL--Dubuque, IA, June 2, 2021) The daughter of Joseph and Vivian Horn Bennis, Jo Ann attended Nativity School, the ACADEMY OF THE VISITATION (THE), and graduated from CLARKE COLLEGE with a BA degree in music education with piano as her major instrument. Awarded a graduate scholarship to the University of Kansas from the National Institute for Mental Health and a research grant to Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, she graduated from the University of Kansas with a MA in music education with an emphasis in music therapy.
Upon returning to Dubuque, Jo Ann became the music therapist for the Dubuque County Board of Education serving the mentally, physically, and emotionally challenged students of the Dubuque and Western Dubuque Community School Districts. In this position, Jo Ann established the first music therapy program in a classroom setting in the State of Iowa. She later became the Director of Music Therapy at Clarke College and taught music therapy classes. Jo Ann finished her career as a private piano teacher at St. Anthony’s School and in her home retiring in 2012.
An avid snow skier, Jo Ann skied the slopes of the Alps from Switzerland into Italy, the resorts of Colorado, and finally every weekday at Dubuque’s Sundown Mountain.
Surviving were Jo Ann’s husband of 47 years, Raymond Roberts, daughters Laura (Mike) Stromberg, Ames, IA, Elizabeth (Ben) Eagle of Dubuque, and a son, Jonathan (Annie Sussman) of Arlington, MA, along with three grandchildren: EsméEagle, Henry Eagle, and Jack Roberts.
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Source:
Obituaries, Dubuque Today, Online: https://dubuquetoday.com/obituaries/