Josephine G. Wallace

Josephine G. Wallace, age 93, formerly of Kewaunee, died at Bridgewater Assisted Living in Mount Dora, Florida on May 7, 2022. She was born on March 19, 1929, to the late Vincenzo and Angela Elentina (Dininni) Coccionitti (Nitti). She married John M. Wallace on February 14, 1953, and he preceded her in death on November 29, 1995.

Born in Mount Vernon, New York, and raised in Yonkers by her Italian immigrant parents, Jo was a first generation Italian-American who went on to graduate first in her class at Vassar College with a 4.0 grade point. After graduating, Jo worked for the NSA as an analyst where she met her husband-to-be who was about to be released from military duty. After following John’s work to Texas and New Jersey, John and Jo made their home in Kewaunee, Wisconsin in 1961 where they raised six children.

In addition to raising her family and keeping an immaculate, magazine-ready house, Jo also taught English, Spanish, and Latin at Kewaunee High School. She is fondly remembered by countless students as Señora Wallace. She led the Spanish Club, chaperoned many groups of students to Mexico, and was very instrumental in establishing an AFS Club at Kewaunee High. She taught English as a second language, studied abroad in Spain, and loved to travel having visited Italy, France, Sicily, Germany, Cuba, Canada, and went on a missionary trip to Nicaragua. In preparation for her Italy trip, she taught herself Italian. She and John enjoyed playing bridge with friends, and hosting dinner parties. Somehow she found time to prepare gourmet meals to serve on her perfectly set table every night. She was a very talented seamstress who made everything from clothes to dolls to Halloween costumes to curtains. She redecorated the house herself more than once, even learning special painting techniques. She was active in Women’s Club, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and other organizations. She was a member of Community Congregational Church in Kewaunee.

Jo is survived by her children, Linda Wallace, Sun City, Arizona; John R. (Donna) Wallace, Appleton, Wisconsin; Carol Wallace, Algoma, Wisconsin; James Wallace, Southborough, Massachusetts; Michael Wallace, Los Angeles, California; and David Wallace, Green Bay, Wisconsin; three grandchildren: John M. (Erica) Wallace, Anthony Wallace, and Kenton
Wallace; and two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marian Fox and Helen (Gene) Beverly; one brother, John Nitti; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother, Vincent Nitti; sister, Evelyn Ewald; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and one grandson, Joseph Wallace.

Friends may call from 10:00 am - 11:00 am at Community Congregational Church, Kewaunee on Saturday, June 25th, 2022. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am with Rev. Dr. John R. Wallace officiating. Burial at Riverview Cemetery in Kewaunee to follow.