Herschend Enterprises Monday announced the passing of co-owner JoDee Herschend.
She passed away Sunday after a 24-year battle against cancer.
JoDee grew up in Springfield. She took a job at Silver Dollar City in the summer of 1962 while a student at Southwest Missouri State University. She worked in the general store and as a street performer alongside a young Peter Herschend. The job led to marriage between the two.
Beyond her work with the family, JoDee founded The Caring People, an international ministry to single mothers. JoDee and Peter have also invested time and treasure in a wide range of ministries and projects at the local, national and international levels including Acts 29, Episcopal World Missions, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. JoDee and Peter helped establish Sigma House, a drug rehabilitation center in Branson, and the Ozark Food Harvest.
She is survived by her husband Peter and five children. A celebration of life is scheduled for Monday, December 3, 2018 at 11 a.m. at James River Church in Ozark, Mo. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made in JoDee’s memory to The Caring People at www.thecaringpeople.org.