Jo Anne Frances Leiffert

Jo Anne Frances Leiffert, age 95, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at the Kavanagh House Hospice.

She was born, Jo Anne Frances Boss on May 6, 1930, to Alfred and Nola Boss, in Moberly, Missouri. She grew up in Manning, Iowa before moving to Des Moines. She graduated from North High School in 1948. Jo Anne was an Air Force Pilot’s wife, moving from one air base to the next with her husband Donald during his career in the Air Force. This included one trip driving the rugged Alaskan Highway from Des Moines to Elmendorf Air Force Base, in Anchorage, Alaska in 1956.

Jo Anne had a tremendous love of animals of any type. She would have been happy running her own zoo. Jo Anne enjoyed playing the piano and writing poetry. She had a tremendous memory, reciting long poems and passages from memory well into her 90’s. She also possessed a wry sense of humor that helped her through many difficult times of her life, including losing her husband in an air crash while on active duty and her oldest son dying of cancer at 19 years of age.

Jo Anne was preceded in death by her husband, Captain Donald Edward Leiffert USAF, son, Christopher Gordon Leiffert, sister, Jeanne Henwood, and brother Gordon Boss.

She is survived by her sons, Kirk (Elizabeth) Leiffert and Chad (Shaunda) Leiffert; grandsons, Mark, Matthew, Collin and Ryan.

Private graveside services were held at Pine Hill Cemetery in Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa or to the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa.

To express online condolences please visit, www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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