On January 10, 2015, Allen Community College lost one of its most dedicated and passionate workers, Jo Lannel Cuppy. She died at the age of 50 in her hometown of Bronson, Kansas after a long struggle with cancer.

Cuppy’s fight against cancer spanned 14 years. During this time she battled successfully against stage three breast cancer and was in remission when new signs of the disease unexpectedly  started showing up just a year ago. Her last bout was stage four cancer, which ultimately took her life.

Cuppy worked at Allen for 11 years, serving its students as an instructor of mathematics, computer science, English as a Second Language, and General Education Development preparatory courses. She earned her associate’s degree through Allen, after which she continued at the University of Kansas for her bachelor’s degree and Emporia State University for her master’s.

Before moving to Iola in 2002, Cuppy and her husband, Walter Palmisano, resided in New Orleans, Louisiana for nearly twenty-five years, where she worked in the French Market area making jewelry and hats.

Her husband shared, “Jo was an artistically gifted woman; she loved to use her imagination to create amazing pieces of jewelry and clothing.” Cuppy also expressed herself through knitting and stained-glass work.

In her spare time, she was an ardent athlete. She enjoyed her fitness hours and running practices. Palmisano said she was especially proud of her achievements in 5-kilometer and half-marathon races in which she tried to participate every year. Cuppy was also a cat lover. She enjoyed breeding them and giving them unique names. Once, she saved a little kitten from becoming dinner for a turtle, Palmisano recalled, after what she named it ToFu (Turtle Food). That’s how she came up with more names, like Nibbler, from the show Futurama, or Schrodinger, after the famous physicist Edwin Schrodinger.

“She was also a hard worker from the bottom to the top,” added Palmisano. “Jo could never rest, always wanting to do everything at once.”

Even though the loss of his wife has left him in a deep grief, Palmisano and son Seth still remember her with a smile and expression of joy on his face.

“She was brave; she laughed about her cancer, never letting the illness come across her active life,” Palmisano said. “After chemotherapy she made a bright red string wig, just like a Raggedy Ann doll has, and was wearing it everywhere to show people she wasn’t threatened by disease.”

He added his wife was a big influence on him academically, insisting that he come back to college and helping him get through his college experience.

MANY CO-WORKERS also have fond memories of their late colleague.

“Oh, Jo was a precious thing to work with,” said Tammy Wallace, Cuppy’s co-worker in adult education. “She was in love with her work; she enjoyed interacting with students and doing her best to help them succeed.”

They worked shoulder to shoulder for four years and shared some hobbies and interests. Wallace was able to get to know Cuppy better during the conferences they attended for Allen. She said that the death of her partner and friend was a big tragedy to her and her family.

Others in the Allen family left meaningful messages on the funeral home’s online guestbook at the time of Cuppy’s death, including Barbara Chalker Anderson: “Jo should have been named JOY because that is exactly who she was. Such a pleasant joy to be around. Her memory will remain as a sweet, kind, caring individual who will be missed by many. …”

Christine Freelove wrote, “Joe was an awesome person, always willing to help her students and others when in need. She was always positive and had a smile no matter how she was feeling. She will be missed!”

Christy Cutshaw added, “I feel blessed to have know and worked with such an amazing lady and dedicated educatory.”

Numerous students have also expressed their condolences to Cuppy’s family. One of them was Tai Lee, a student from her mathematics class. Lee admired Jo’s patience with students, and she described her teacher as a laid back and friendly individual. “Ms. Cuppy was a very unique person and her students will miss her very much,” said Lee.

Photographs provided by Walter Palmisano