Jo E. Laidig

Jo E. Laidig, 90, from Mishawaka peacefully passed away on the early morning of January 18, 2025. On a cold and snowy evening, Jo Eileen Sherland entered this world.  She was born at home in Bremen, IN to Lester Alonzo & Marjorie Bernice (Wynn) Sherland on January 3, 1935.  As a young girl, Jo lost her birth father, and Malcolm “Jack” Tabor entered her life when he married her mother. This family of three had many journeys together. An early memory for Jo was taking a train with her mom to Monterey Bay, California to visit Jack as he bravely enlisted to fight in World War II. After the war, they settled in a small bungalow on Lake of the Woods in Bremen. This move proved to shape Jo into the woman she later became. Lake life gave Jo an avenue to use her athletic talents to swim, which fed her zest for competition and success. Her high school years at Bremen were filled with marching band and friends. As an only child, those friends became her family for the remainder of her life. Her best friend coaxed her to attend a roller-skating party. Unbeknownst to Jo, a tall and lanky Madison High School basketball player was there for a blind date with her.  That is where the adventure began with the love of her life. On June 14, 1953 Jo married L Duane Laidig. Farm life was a challenge to which Jo rolled up her sleeves and learned to be a supportive helpmate to Duane. She loved living on Madison Road which became her home for over 70 years.  Her father and mother-in-law, three brother and sister-in-laws, and 12 nieces and nephews shared that Madison Road life as next-door neighbors. She raised her four children with joy, providing for them a well-ordered home, loving discipline, and Christ centered values. She knew how immensely good God had been to her. Jo and Duane seldom missed a basketball game, choir concert, or youth group activity for their children, and later when grandchildren arrived, they loved attending their activities also. With a lifestyle marked by hospitality and a servant’s heart, Jo extended an enduring welcome to their Madison Road home whether for a game of cards, gatherings after games, family visits or hosting countless family celebrations around a beautifully set table. She was fondly known to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even their friends as “Grandma Jo” and her monster cookies were just the best. Jo is survived by her four children and their spouses. Kurt and Rhonda Laidig of Mishawaka, Jan and Victor Baumgartner of Auburn, Scott and Sheila Laidig of Mishawaka, and Thomas and LeeAnn Laidig of Mishawaka. And her much beloved 14 grandchildren; Andy (Lindsay) Laidig, Brent (Hilary) Laidig, Julie (Bryan) Mattison, Wes (Meredith) Laidig, Micah (Kelly) Baumgartner, Megan (Dennis) George, Aaron (Liz) Laidig, Nathan (Maddie) Laidig, Samuel (fiancé Paige) Laidig, Kara (Justus) Brinkerhoff, Kendra (Ben) Babione, Caleb (Jessica) Laidig, Abigail (Zachary) Lusk, and Jeffrey (Corey) Laidig. Jo delighted in her 30 great grandchildren, Logan, Tyson, Lucy, Carly, Ellie, Henry, Hadlee, Chase, Grady, Blakely, Nora, Reese, Paige, Annika, Hantz, Korinthia, Daniella, Maya Jo, Myka, Franklin, Wellington, Lincoln, Palmer, Kellen, Nolan, Leighton, Caroline, Cooper, Parker and Baker. At large and most often boisterous family gatherings, Jo would so easily tear up and then proudly smile and say “only because I went to a roller-skating party”. Also surviving are her sister-in-law, Sonja Laidig and brother-in-law, Dwight and Sandy Laidig and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Jo was preceded in death by her husband Duane Laidig, her stepbrother Greydon Tabor, her half brother Larry Sherland, brother-in-law’s, Jon and Stanley Laidig, Dick Billman, sister-in-law’s Myrt Laidig and Phyllis Billman and great granddaughter Macy Kathryn Laidig. Friends and family may visit with the family from 4:00-7:00 pm, Friday, January 31, 2025 in Community Gospel Church, 68893 IN 331, Bremen, IN 46506.  A Celebration of Jo’s Life will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, February 1, 2025 in Community Gospel Church and the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service time. The Laidig family with deepest gratitude, thank Crystal, Irene, Karen, Kathy, Kristi and Mary Jo.  These wonderful ladies provided loving care, comfort and peace to Jo in her final years. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Community Gospel Church Mission Fund, 68893 IN 331, Bremen, IN 46506