Johnette "Jo" Rachel Criss

April 15, 1939 - February 3, 2022

Johnette “Jo” Rachel Criss, age 82, of Washington, Iowa, passed away Thursday, February 3, 2022, at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington, following a lengthy battle with leukemia. Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. followed by a celebration of life at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 7, 2022, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington with Pastor Dave Conrads officiating. The service will be live streamed on the Jones & Eden Facebook page. Memorials have been established for Genesis Church in Coralville, Iowa, and the Christian Appalachian Project. Online condolences may be sent to Jo’s family through the website at www.jonesfh.com. Jo was born April 15, 1939, in Wellman, Iowa, the daughter of John and Maxine (Baugh) Durst. She attended country school at Pleasant Valley School in rural Washington County and graduated from Keota High School. She was united in marriage to Gary Peiffer in Keota, Iowa. They had six children and later divorced. Jo married Lloyd Criss and they later divorced. Jo was happiest when working with the public. Following high school, she worked in the restaurant business and she and Gary owned and operated Peiffer’s Supper Club in Keota, Iowa. She later worked at the National Bank of Washington and the University of Iowa Business Office. She retired from the University of Iowa at age 74, after 26 years of service. Following her retirement she worked at Fareway Food Store in Coralville, Iowa. Jo’s passion was country music, which included traveling to Nashville and all of Bill Anderson’s concerts. She loved spending time with her family and was especially proud of her grandkids and great-grandkids. Jo is survived by son, Russ (Theresa) Peiffer of Blue Ridge, Georgia; four daughters: Janet Deehring of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Deb Roush of Washington, Iowa; Shelli Hahn of Shawano,Wisconsin; Pam Peiffer (fiancé, Larry Redlinger) of Kalona, Iowa; twelve grandchildren: Alyssa (fiancé, Mathew Lee) and Joshua Peiffer; Tyler (Katelynn) and Spencer Deehring; Teryn (Michael) Stigers and Kylie Stoltenberg; Kayla Benge and Kaitlin Roush; Levi (Holli) and Bailie (fiancé, Justen Wegter) Hahn; Zachary and Alexis Kiefer; seven great-grandchildren: Nolan and Brynleigh Stigers; Declan Acker; Amelia Miller; and Collin, Caden, and Chloe Hahn. She is also survived by brothers John (Syd) Durst Jr. of Wellman, Iowa; Duane (Peggy) Durst of Wellman, Iowa; sister-in-law, Bonnie Durst of Wellman, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Maxine and Ward Hinnah; John Sr. and Bertha Durst; daughter, Cindy Peiffer; son-in-law, Charlie Hahn; sister, Nancy Fisher; two brothers, Michael and Richard Durst; sister-in-law, Carol Durst; niece, Sandy Hagist Carr; and nephew, Brian Durst.