HUTCHINSON — Mary Jo ‘Jo Jo’ Nuckolls Rucker Perser, 92, of Hutchinson, Kan., passed away Aug. 12, 2025, at Hospital District #1 of Rice County, Lyons. She was born June 28, 1933, in rural Burdett, Kan., the daughter of Joseph Charles and Elsie (Winter) Nuckolls. Jo has resided in Lyons since 2023, formerly of Hutchinson, Kan.
She graduated from Burdett High School with the class of 1951. In 1965, Jo received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University, and a Master’s degree in Learning Disabilities from the University of Kansas in 1975. She was a Master Educator for the State of Kansas, retiring in 1996.
Jo was a member of the Salem Church, Bushton. She served on the Gifted Education Task Force for the State of Kansas Department of Education. Jo was a member of the Professional Society Advisory Board for the University of Kansas Alumni with Dr. Dale Scannell, Dean of School of Education. She served on the Secondary Learning Disabilities Task Force, for the State of Kansas Department of Education. Jo was a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD); Council for Exceptional Children (CEC); Kansas Reading Association (KRA); Division of Learning Disabilities (DLD); and National Staff Development (NSD). She served on the Teacher of the Year Selection for Scholarship Committee provided for by Nancy Kassebaum. Jo developed and presented motivational presentations for administrators, teachers, paras, parents, and students throughout the state. She published a manuscript in 1980 titled “Affective Based Competency Development” co-authored with Dr. Michael Camelio. In 1990, she received an honor for her work as a leader in Kansas Staff Development.
Jo was an avid reader, loved writing, writing poems, gardening, crafting, and doing art camp with her grandchildren.
On Oct. 12, 1951, Jo was united in marriage with Clark Curtis Rucker. He preceded her in death on June 3, 1993. On Dec. 5, 2002, Jo was united in marriage with Bobby Perser. He preceded her in death on March 6, 2023. Jo is also preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Shirley Reinke; brother, Jim Nuckolls; and two sisters, Ruth Sieverling, and Dorothy Nuckolls.
Jo is survived by her daughter, Pam Hoelscher and husband David of Bushton, Kan.; son-in-law, Brad Reinke and wife Connie of Lincoln, Neb.; sister, Esther Shank of Greensburg, Kan.; ten grandchildren, Laurie Beck (Scott), Amy Hurley (Matt), Jolie Epp (Lucas), Lesley Matlack (Karl), Zachary Reinke (Karla), Bethany Webb (Michael), Emma Reinke, Chloe Carlin (Chase), Ivy Seldan (Dan), and Sophia Reinke; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at Salem Church, Bushton, with Pastor Tom Reazin officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at Browns Grove Cemetery, Burdett, Kan. Visitation will be from 2 until 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons, with family present from 5 until 7 p.m. Memorials may be given to the Salem Scholarship Fund or the Rice Community Healthcare Foundation (for the Swing Bed Unit) in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Birzer Funeral Homes
214 West Ave. South
Lyons, KS 67554
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 16, 2025
