CHARLESTON, S.C. - Jo Anne Block Wise ("Jo") died peacefully at her home in Charleston on May 5, 2015, surrounded by her loving husband, children and friends. Jo was born on June 20, 1937 in Monroe, Wisconsin. She graduated with high honors from Monroe High School in 1959 and won a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin. She attended the University of Wisconsin for one year and then transferred to the prestigious nursing school at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. She graduated in 1960 and then became the head nurse of the private newborn nursery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
She later taught nursing and obstetrics at the Medical University of South Carolina from approximately 1961 to 1967. She returned to MUSC as a head nurse in 1973 and eventually became the Director of Product Evaluation. She retired in 1996.
She was an active member of Holy Communion Episcopal Church and served in St. Catherine's Guild. She loved traveling; old movies and musicals; telling stories; attending Clemson football games with her beloved husband, Bob; and her Holy Communion family. Her laugh and wit will be missed by many, and her family and friends will miss her forever.
Jo was preceded in death by her son, Charles Richard Furman Baker, III; her brother, David L. Block; her mother, Jennie Scoville Baerwald; and her father, Rodney H. Block.
She is survived by her husband, William Robert ("Bob") Wise, III; her son, Randolph Shipp Baker; her daughter Mary Mikell Baker; her granddaughter, Ashley Baker Illing and her husband, Stuart; her great granddaughter Isabel Illing; her step-granddaughters and their husbands: Jennifer and Casey Crow, Jessica and Chris Smith; and Linda Echterhoff and her husband Scott Sherman.
A memorial service celebrating Jo's life will be held at the Church Of The Holy Communion, 218 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29403 on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 11:00 AM. A reception will follow at the family home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church Of The Holy Communion at the above address.
She later taught nursing and obstetrics at the Medical University of South Carolina from approximately 1961 to 1967. She returned to MUSC as a head nurse in 1973 and eventually became the Director of Product Evaluation. She retired in 1996.
She was an active member of Holy Communion Episcopal Church and served in St. Catherine's Guild. She loved traveling; old movies and musicals; telling stories; attending Clemson football games with her beloved husband, Bob; and her Holy Communion family. Her laugh and wit will be missed by many, and her family and friends will miss her forever.
Jo was preceded in death by her son, Charles Richard Furman Baker, III; her brother, David L. Block; her mother, Jennie Scoville Baerwald; and her father, Rodney H. Block.
She is survived by her husband, William Robert ("Bob") Wise, III; her son, Randolph Shipp Baker; her daughter Mary Mikell Baker; her granddaughter, Ashley Baker Illing and her husband, Stuart; her great granddaughter Isabel Illing; her step-granddaughters and their husbands: Jennifer and Casey Crow, Jessica and Chris Smith; and Linda Echterhoff and her husband Scott Sherman.
A memorial service celebrating Jo's life will be held at the Church Of The Holy Communion, 218 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29403 on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 11:00 AM. A reception will follow at the family home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church Of The Holy Communion at the above address.