Barbara J. "Jo" Flack

Barbara Joan "Jo" Flack, 94, passed away Thursday April 25th at Wesley Village in Macomb, IL.  
She was born on June 28, 1929 in Kinderhook, IL to George and Thelma (Shaffer) Hull.  She graduated from Kinderhook High School and came to Western Illinois Teachers College in Macomb (now Western Illinois University), where she graduated with a teaching degree and met her husband, Charles H "Chick" Flack. Jo taught grade school for two years before marrying Chick on September 14, 1952 and joining him in Chicago for his last two years of law school. They moved back to Macomb in 1954 where they raised their two children, Steve Flack and Teri Flack Hillyer. 
While raising her children, Jo also took great pleasure in golf, flower gardening, card games, and the piano. Chick used to call her his "Nancy" after the famous golfer Nancy Lopez as Jo won many golf tournaments at the Macomb Country Club and throughout their travels. Jo continued to play golf, shooting straight down the middle of the fairway, well into her 80's. Their summers were spent with their children at their lake house in Missouri, which instilled a love of swimming and boating in Jo's family that continues to pass through each generation. 
Jo and Chick accomplished many successful business adventures including building and bringing the Holiday Inn to Macomb, building the Kiljordan Shopping Center (current home to Rialto theater and Dollar Tree), and building the previous home of Neiman's County Market. Jo's favorite business venture was their shared ownership in the Macomb and Muscatine, IA Holiday Inns with a small group of friends. This led to many years of travel for the annual owners' conventions held in a new city each year, many times internationally. 
Later in life, Jo and Chick moved their boating life up to Lake Michigan and their golf game out to Tucson, AZ. The Lake Michigan life was a dream of Chick's - Jo might have been the only first mate in Racine, WI afraid of the water. Her favorite times were days safely tied at dock and evenings spent playing cards with harbor neighbors. However, it was the Tucson winters that were Jo's dream - with days spent golfing, walking the trails, visiting craft vendor fairs, and volunteering at the Tucson Assistance League. She also enjoyed sharing her Snowbird life with her grandchildren during their annual visits. 
Jo was an active member of the Macomb Country Club, First Presbyterian Church, Macomb Woman's Club, The Salvation Army, and Macomb Beautiful.  
She was preceded in death by her husband and son. Jo is survived by one daughter, Teri (Mike) Hillyer of Macomb, two granddaughters, Katie Hillyer (John Grazulis) of St Petersburg, FL and Stephanie (Reid) Fulkerson of Warrenville, IL, and three great-grandchildren, Connor, Carson & Chloe Fulkerson.  
Private grave side services will be held at the Oakwood Cemetery. A Celebration of her Life will be held at the Macomb Country Club Monday, April 29th from 4-6pm. 
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, all memorials may be made to Wesley Village, MDH Hospice, or First Presbyterian Church of Macomb.  
Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb is in charge of arrangements.  
You may leave condolences and sign the guest book online at clugstontibbitts.com .
 

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