Jo Ann Turtle Flock

Jo Ann Turtle Flock, age 84 years of Niles, Michigan, mother, Nana, sister, aunt, friend, and committed follower of Jesus, completed her longtime journey to meet Jesus face-to-face, leaving this world October 23, 2021 with family gathered around in her beloved Agape Hidden Valley.

In addition to family, Jo’s passions were Jesus and Babies. She loved her family, she loved people, and loved God above all. She was constrained to share the love of Jesus that marked her own life and help save the lives of pre-birth babies until her very last days. Her political activism was motivated to facilitate these ends.

She was born on July 10,1937 in Niles to Edward M. and Alice M. (Schau) Turtle Crocker. She graduated with the Class of 1955 from Niles High School, and continued her education at LMC. She was the Indian Education Coordinator for Brandywine and Niles schools, waterfront director at Clear Lake, YMCA swim instructor, and employed at Clark Equipment, National Standard, Mobil Chemical, and was a legal secretary for several Niles attorneys. She loved helping others through her successful Amway business for forty years.

Jo was a member of Community Evangelical Free Church and worked tirelessly with LifePlan (Pregnancy Care Center) for decades.  She was an elected member of the Niles Charter Township Park Board and was an ambassador for Niles, presenting Ronald Reagan a Four Flags plaque at the White House. Nonetheless, home is what she relished most and daily, quite literally, exclaimed the beauty of Agape Hidden Valley that God gave as a gift on the Dowagiac River to be shared with all.

In 1973 she married Eugene John “Jack” Flock with whom she celebrated the forty-second anniversary of their wedding prior to his death in 2016. She was preceded in death by son-in-law Wayne Perkins and grandson John Polega in 2020; her five-year-old brother, Larry Turtle in 1936; and brothers Horace Crocker, Edward (& Patsy) Turtle, and SMSgt. James (& Jessie) J. Turtle.

Surviving family includes sons and daughters Tara Perkins, Renée Polega, Alicia Polega, Tim (& Suzi) Polega, Eugene “Jack” (& Cheri) Flock, Jr., and David Flock and former daughter-in-law Karen Flock; seventeen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; Jo’s siblings, Donna Ochenryder, Joe Crocker, Tom Crocker, and many nieces and nephews.

Her family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care of the staff of Caring Circle Hospice at Home. Medical science and future physicians will be enhanced by Jo’s decision to participate in the anatomical donation program.

Jo’s Celebration of Life will be Saturday October 30th at Community Evangelical Free Church, 120 East Bertrand Road in Niles. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a service at 11:00 (officiated by Rev. Dan Greegor of Sumnerville Bible Baptist Church) and a meal.

Contributions in memory of Jo may be made to LifePlan, Community Evangelical Free Church or to Sumnerville Bible Baptist Church. Please use your funds for the lives of babies and salvation of souls; not for flowers or trees.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  Online condolences may be left at: www.halbritterwickens.com