Mary Jo Ann Egan

Mary Jo Ann Egan

Mary Jo Ann (Alter) Egan (86) passed away November 10, 2023, at home in Brighton, CO.  Jo, as her friends and family knew her, was born in St. Cloud, MN, February 1, 1937, the first child of Dale and Dorothy (Homan) Alter. The Alter Family moved many times throughout Jo’s childhood for Dale’s career in Retail Store Management. They settled in Crete, NE for Jo’s teenage years. She attended Doane College for a year and met many lifelong friends. In 1960, Dale bought a Ben Franklin Store in Brighton, CO and the family moved there.  Jo met a handsome young man at the skating rink in Brighton. Jo and William R Egan “Bill'' were married February 24, 1962.

Jo and Bill had 5 girls in quick succession. Kathy, Karen, Kelly, Kim, and Kris.

While “the girls” were growing up, Jo was actively making sure they all were all involved in church, Girl Scouts and piano lessons. She was a Girl Scout leader for one of the girls continuously for many years. Planning meetings, camping trips and community service projects,  and “bridged” over to being the neighborhood cookie chairperson for over a decade (even after all the girls were out of the Girl Scout program).

She was an active supporter and fundraiser for Mile High Girl Scouts and Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation as well as a fierce advocate for children with special needs in the 1970s.

In 1991 her kidneys began to fail due to Polycystic Kidney Disease. She started dialysis and was put on the transplant wait list. She received the miracle of a donor kidney Nov. 6, 1991 and lived another 32 amazing years with that kidney.

She worked for Adams County Government for many years as a switchboard operator and receptionist/greeter at the administration building in Brighton. She retired in March 1999.

Jo loved to visit with family and friends (everyone was her friend!). After retirement, she volunteered many hours for two local nonprofit groups: Warm Hearts Warm Babies and Ugly Quilts. Jo’s ministry to the faithful at St. Augustine Catholic Church included Eucharistic Ministry to homebound individuals, prayer list support and many other activities within her church.

She is survived by William (Bill) R Egan, her husband of 61 year,  Brother Robert (Bob) (Karen) Alter, Sister Marti (Peter) Alter Cudlip, the “5 K’s” and their families:

Kathy (Brian) Fennelly, Colleen (Sean) and Ellen Fallon, Tim Fennelly, Kevin Fennelly

Karen (Mike) Vaughn, Adam (Taylor) Vaughn, Ann (Scott) and Madeline Ritchie, Sydney Vaughn

Kelly (Robert, deceased) Tacker, Sean (Kristina) McKenna, and Willow Tacker

Kim (Rick) Schultz, Tyler Schultz, Taylor Schultz

Kris (Robert) Siemering, Dakota (Colin) Siemering, Cheyenne (Oscar) Retana, Nevada (Haylee) Siemering.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to:

http://www.donoralliance.org/contribute/

http://girlscoutsofcolorado.salsalabs.org/donate/index.html

http://support.pkdcure.org/give/502771/#!/donation/checkout

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