JoEllen Marie Jepson was born July 7, 1964, in Mount Pleasant, the daughter of Alan and Linda (Boese) Coop. She grew up in Wayland, graduating from WACO High School in 1982, and continued her education at Northeast Missouri State University.
On August 3, 1985, JoEllen was united in marriage to Jeff Jepson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Together they made their home in Wayland, where they raised six children and built a life filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. During those busy years, JoEllen was deeply involved in her children’s activities, including serving on the WACO School Board. In 2018, after becoming empty nesters, JoEllen and Jeff moved to an acreage outside of Mount Pleasant.
JoEllen served as president of Sticks on Stilts from 1996 to the present and worked as a secretary at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry for nearly 42 years—a testament to her dedication and strong work ethic.
JoEllen had a gift for making friends wherever she went. She was generous with her time, her advice, her love, and her thoughtful gifts. A natural storyteller, she spared no detail —sometimes taking the scenic route to the end—and her stories were even better when Jeff joined in. Her joyful laugh and playful squeals were contagious, often leaving everyone around her laughing even harder. 
Summers were often spent on the water, where JoEllen found great joy in boating with her family. Whether it was packing up six kids for a full weekend on the boat or later sharing those moments with her grandchildren and their dog George, those days were treasured. Jeff would often say, “I’m the richest man on the lake,” a reflection of the beautiful family they created together—a sentiment that remained true throughout their lives. In quieter moments, JoEllen and Jeff enjoyed more peaceful cruises together, her curly hair blowing in the wind, lips perfectly covered in her favorite shade, and smile perfectly complementing the sunset. As Jeff would say, “My girl always looks good.” JoEllen had a natural sense of style, often pairing her outfits with coordinating accessories and manicures, enhancing her already radiant beauty.
She was both a homebody and an adventurer. She loved hosting gatherings, carefully maintaining a journal of menus and guest lists for special occasions dating back to 2005, often saying, “You’re going to be happy I kept all these notes someday!”—and she was right, as she so often was. Her love of travel took her on many adventures—with Jeff, with the extended Jepson family, with lifelong friends, with coworkers, and on solo trips to visit loved ones. Among her favorite destinations was Puerto Rico where she and Jeff had no agenda except to have fun.
JoEllen’s accomplishments were many. She was proud to be a 51% business owner and president of Sticks on Stilts, a company that began in the toy room of their home and continues today from a now dedicated home office organized in a way only JoEllen truly understood. Though she had much to be proud of, she remained humble. Her greatest achievement was the life and family she built with Jeff.
JoEllen is survived by her husband of 41 years, Jeff; her six children, Amanda (Kyle Davy) Jepson of Des Moines, Zach (Lindi) Jepson of Wayland, Sabrina (Cale) Garrett of Mount Pleasant, Chelsea (Travis) Hoyer of rural Houghton, Mariah (Mark Nelson) Jepson of Overland Park, Kansas, and Jalyssa Jepson of Mount Pleasant; 15 grandchildren, Josie, Abigail, Carti, Bristol, Jett, Kip, Vaida, Maxine, Keira, Jaxtin, Graham, Sylvie, Ruby, LouElla, and Jack; her mother, Linda Coop of Unionville; her siblings, Duane Coop, Heather Risberg, Lafe (Hannah) Coop, Ashly (Jerred) Hurley, Annie (Ray) Dorsey, and Carrie (Chris) Hines; and her sister-in-law, Jennifer Coop; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Alan Coop; Uncle, Bob Boese; and her grandmother in law who she shared the same sparkle, Maxine Schmeig; and multiple extended relatives.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at Olson-Yoder Funeral Home, where the family will be present to receive friends and family. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2026, at New London Christian Church, with Parnell Davis officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery, rural Mount Pleasant. A luncheon will be held following the burial at Airport Road Vineyard. Memorial contributions may be directed to the JoEllen Jepson Memorial Fund. Messages and tributes may be shared at www.olsonyoderfh.com.