Jolene Marie Hasbrouck

Jolene (“Jo”) Marie Hasbrouck, the daughter of John Kirchoff and Bonnie (Hein) Christensen, was born on June 25, 1970, in Des Moines, Iowa, and died on May 10, 2019, at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of 48 years, 10 months, and 15 days.
Jo attended elementary school and lived in Des Moines until she was ten years old, when her family moved to a farm outside of Hamlin. She attended the Exira Community Schools, graduating with the Class of 1988, and later attended Des Moines Area Community College. Jo was blessed with one son, Jacob (“Jake”), in 1988.
Jo cared for everyone, and her first priority always was her family. She was happiest spending time at home with Brad and his children, Ryver and Gianna; her father, John; Jake and Michael during their visits back to Iowa; and other family and her many friends. Jo also enjoyed traveling to visit her mother, sister, and other family in Ohio, and Jake and Michael in Washington, D.C. Jo was interested in world history and culture, and traveled to Europe when Jake studied in Freiburg, Germany. She enjoyed visiting France and Switzerland, and was especially fond of their trip to Paris. Jo believed in God and was a spiritual person. Fulfilling a lifelong wish of hers, Jo and her son, Jake, were baptized on May 7, 2019, in the presence of family and dear friends.
Jo was a diehard Bon Jovi fan and attended many of their concerts with friends and family. She was a University of Iowa football fan and enjoyed watching the New York Giants play, especially when the camera panned to Jon Bon Jovi in the stands. Jo was meticulous about the appearance of her yard and spent many hours tending to her landscaping and planting flowers. She was also very skilled at cross stitching and created many treasured pieces for family and friends. Referred to by many as the patron saint of animals, Jo was a dedicated caregiver to her many pets over the years, including beloved cats Butterscotch, Belle, Bo, Squirt, Blackie, Butch, and Downey, and dogs Mollie and Abbie.
Jo was a dedicated employee from a young age and worked hard to support her family. In high school, Jo babysat for many families in the Exira and Hamlin areas and also worked with her sister, Kim, at the Audubon sale barn and Country Kitchen restaurant near the I-80 Audubon exit. At various times, Jo worked at Places, American Home Shield, and Dr. Vandusen’s dental practice. Jo spent most of her career in the healthcare field and enjoyed working and interacting with patients, doctors, and nurses. She worked at Prairie Rose Mental Health Center in Harlan, and at hospitals in Audubon and Harlan, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska. Jo most recently worked as a Patient Access Representative at CHI Health Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. She loved her job and coworkers there.
Preceding Jo in death were her grandparents, Delbert and wife Helen Hein, and Arthur and wife Lillian Kirchoff; her uncles, Fred Sanburn and Bill Stromberg; her aunt, Delores Hein; her cousin, Jeff Whitlow; and her beloved pets Butterscotch, Belle, Bo, Squirt, Blackie, Mollie, and Abbie.
Survivors include the love of her life, Brad Knueven of Audubon, Iowa; her son, Jake Christensen, and his partner Michael Appel, of San Francisco, California; Brad’s children, Ryver Knueven and Gianna Knueven, both of Audubon, Iowa; her father, John Kirchoff of Audubon, Iowa; her mother, Bonnie Christensen of Elmore, Ohio: her sister, Kim Taylor, and her children, Nathan, Loren, and Ally Taylor, all of Woodville, Ohio; her two special cats Downey and Butch; other loved relatives and many dear friends.
A Celebration of Jo’s Life will be held on Sunday, May 26, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Parish Center (102 Market Street) in Audubon, Iowa. There will be a brief program and an opportunity to share memories of Jo starting at 2:00 p.m., followed by refreshments.
For those who would like to make a donation in Jo’s honor, her family encourages folks to donate to any of the following charitable causes:
Live On Nebraska – Jo was a registered organ donor, and her final act of kindness was to donate her organs, eyes, and tissues to save and help others through transplantation and research. To make a donation in Jo’s name and to learn more about becoming an organ donor, visit https://liveonnebraska.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/
Rusty’s Fund – Atlantic Animal Health Center’s Rusty’s Fund (http://www.atlanticanimalhealthcenter.com/rustys-fund.html) provides financial assistance to pet owners who find themselves unable to afford veterinary treatment for their sick pets. Donations can be sent directly by check to the attention of Rusty’s Fund in Memory of Jo Hasbrouck, Atlantic Animal Health Center, 1008 West 6th Street, Atlantic, Iowa 50022.
The JBJ Soul Foundation – The JBJ Soul Foundation builds affordable housing, provides a food bank and job training, and supports a homeless shelter. Folks can donate to the JBJ Soul Foundation and include Jo’s name in the tribute section here - https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=e38dc2. Jo’s family will continue to fundraise for the JBJ Soul Foundation for the next year, and on Jo’s 50th birthday, June 25, 2020, they will announce the final total donated in Jo’s name. You can learn more about the Foundation in the meantime here – https://www.jonbonjovisoulfoundation.org