Branson community saddened at passing of JoDee Herschend

We are saddened at the passing of Silver Dollar City co-owner JoDee Herschend. JoDee passed on Sunday, Nov. 25 following a 24-year battle against cancer.

Members of the Herschend and Silver Dollar City families expressed their collective grief in a written statement.

“She was deeply loved by her family, friends and thousands of Herschend employees blessed to know her,” the statement reads. “We all feel a tremendous loss.”

JoDee grew up in Springfield, Mo and took a job at Silver Dollar City in the summer of 1962. There she met a young Pete Herschend and soon married. During the following 50-plus years JoDee and Pete worked together to build Herschend Enterprises and along the way raised five children.

She founded The Caring People, an international ministry focused on single mothers. After more than two decades the organization grew and now serves single mothers in 30 locations in four states and in Central America.

“JoDee was an incredible woman of God, whose faithfulness was contagious and inspiring,” the statement concludes. “May we keep the Herschend family in prayer during these difficult days.”

A celebration of life is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 3 at 11a.m. at James River Church in Ozark, Mo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Caring People at www.thecaringpeople.org.

Branson News

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