Ida Jo Haag-Swisher-Jones

Ida Jo Haag-Swisher-Jones, 81, passed away Monday, November 6, 2017 at Presbyterian Manor in Emporia.                      Ida Jo was born April 21, 1936 in Emporia, Kansas the daughter of Albert Joseph and Helen Rose Brown Haag. She attended elementary school at St. Joseph’s in Olpe and graduated from Reading High School with the Class of 1953.  Ida married Lowell “Dean” Swisher on October 30, 1954 at Assumption Catholic Church in Reading. They were later divorced.  She was known as a wonderful cook and baker. She prepared many delicious meals as proprietor of Jimmy’s Café in Reading during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Ida was later employed as a cook with the Woolworths Cafeteria in Emporia and Reading School cafeteria. She managed the Rock Village Court in Cassville, Missouri for her uncle Fritz Brown in the late 1970’s before returning to Kansas to begin her 17 year career as a Printer Operator with Hallmark Cards at the Osage City and Leavenworth locations.  Ida Jo married William T. Jones on February 13, 1993 in the St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Lansing, Kansas. She and Bill entered retirement together in July, 1996 and resided in Madison and Olpe, Kansas before moving to Emporia Presbyterian Manor in 2013.  Her memberships include the Olpe Red Hat Society, St. Teresa’s and St. Joseph’s Catholic Churches altar societies.  She will live on in the hearts of her husband William T. “Bill” Jones of Emporia; children, Lisa (Bill) Cox of Madison, Kansas, James (Dixie) Swisher of Inman, Kansas, Dena Swisher of Auburn, Kansas, Lonnie (Nancy) Swisher of Omaha, Nebraska, Benjamin Swisher of Olpe, Kansas; a son-in-law Doug Brinkman of Parson, Kansas; 11 grandchildren; 20 great- grandchildren with three on the way; a brother, Mark Haag; six sisters, Thouret Lea Gaughan, Charlotte Swisher, Cathy Brady, Virginia Penney, Connie Rogers and Alberta Smith. Ida Jo was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Lynn Brinkman; sisters, Rose Marie Pfaff, Shirley McAnarney and Mary Helen Haag; brothers Howard, Arthur, Roger and David John Haag. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M., Friday, November  10, 2017 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Olpe. Burial will follow services at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00P.M. until 6:30 P.M., Thursday evening at the Church. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 Thursday evening at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Hand in Hand Hospice or the Lynn Brinkman Nursing Scholarship of Labette Community College and sent in care of the Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home at P.O. Box #43, Lebo, Kansas 66856. Condolences may be made at vanarsdalefs.com.