GONZALES: Josephine Marie “Jo-Marie” Lookabill, age 75, passed away On Tuesday, June 17, 2025. She was born April 15, 1950, to Hilbert C. Henke and Mary (Etzler) Henke. She grew up in Komensky, Texas and graduated from Bishop Forest High School in 1968.
On November 5, 1969, she married Willard Raymond Lookabill and together, they raised six children. Jo-Marie and Willard were inseparable, and they went everywhere together. They enjoyed going for drives, sitting outside in the evenings, going to church and dancing.
Jo-Marie devoted her life to raising her children. She was a hard-working woman who passed her strong work ethic on to her children. She often went above and beyond for her family, always sacrificing so that her family did not go without. She loved to cook and one could always find something delicious to devour in her kitchen. She served as the hub of protection for her children, and they always knew that they could count on her for help. Once her children were grown, grandchildren became her focus. You could always find one or more of her grandchildren running around her house, often driving her “crazy” as she would say in a loving way. She enjoyed attending events that her grandchildren were involved in, and she would often tell her children to “pick me up” so that she could ride along to the event.
In her spare time, she loved gardening. She always had an assortment of plants and flowers that she tended to as if they were her children, and she enjoyed sharing cuttings of her plants with others to help them grow their own plants. She enjoyed playing bingo, doing word searches, and participating in the socials with her neighbors in the senior citizen community where she resided.
Jo-Marie grew up a devout Catholic. She and Willard were members of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Sweet Home, Texas until his death in 2014. She then became a member of Faith Family Church in Gonzales, Texas. She was a woman of great faith and loved attending church regularly.
She is survived by her six children: Kimberly Avant (Brandon) of Gonzales, Jeffrey Lookabill of Gonzales, Tara Cook (Matt) of New Braunfels, Brian Lookabill (Marla) of Teague; Kelli Stewart (Brandon) of Gonzales and Tammy Oliver (Jeff) of Victoria.
She was blessed with 20 grandchildren whom she adored; DJ Richter (Connor), Mason Richter, Colby Richter, Jake, Luke, Hannah and Lillie Avant, Jayden Lookabill, Jordan Lookabill, Ravyn Lookabill, John Dillion Cook (Alexis), Kade Collins (Drew), Kall Collins (Brinlie), Kai Hamilton (Dalton), Kas Lookabill, Ashlynn Sanders (Braxton), Abby Stewart, Nathan Oliver, Kaleb Oliver and Drew Oliver. She was tremendously blessed with 9 great-grandchildren, Rhett, Corlee Jo, and Rhimes Richter, Ace and Asher Richter, Willow Lookabill, Autumn Cook, Emory, Wrenlee and Ketch Collins and Stonie Sanders.
She is also survived by her siblings; Hilbert Henke Jr., Carl Henke, Thomas Henke, Mildred Timm, Donnie Henke, Joyce Kocian, Tim Henke, Jane Janacek and Dale Henke.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Hilbert and Mary Henke; husband, Willard Lookabill; grandson, Dustin Cook; son-in-law, Dennis Richter; brother, Royce Henke.
Graveside Service 2 p.m., Monday, June 23, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery with Deacon Dennis Kutach officiating.
Pallbearers are Dillon Cook, Kaleb Oliver, Ashlynn Stewart, Jaydyn Lookabill, Kall Collins, Mason Richter and Colby Richter.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Heart to Heart Hospice.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Heights of Gonzales and Heart to Heart Hospice for their kindness and loving care given to Jo-Marie.
