Mary Jo Vrotsos, age 75, of LaMotte, Iowa, passed away on January 30, 2026, at home.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m.

Mary Jo was born on May 22, 1950, in Dubuque, Iowa, to William Landon and Elizabeth (McDonnell) Kieffer. Mary Jo graduated from Wahlert High School in 1968. She attended and graduated from Clarke College with a degree in History and then later with a degree in Computer Science. Mary Jo married the love of her life, John A. Vrotsos, on September 18, 1971, in Dubuque, Iowa. Mary Jo worked at and retired from McKesson, formerly Cycare, in August 2012.

Mary Jo and her husband John were active conservation supporters, including maintaining their property with native prairie grass and protecting the timber. She was a board member and volunteered at NAMI Dubuque for several years. Mary Jo was also part of a local embroidering guild and enjoyed embroidery retreats. She had a passion for gardening and was known for her delicious pickles, sauerkraut and homemade tomato soup.  Mary Jo was beautifully creative with card making and her stitching samplers will be enjoyed for years to come by her children and grandchildren. Mary Jo loved to travel and visited many different countries in Europe and Japan with her daughter Alethea.  She loved to meet new people and sit down and drink coffee and people watch.  Mary Jo enjoyed time with her in-laws during Christmas cookie baking and Eggplant gatherings.  Mary Jo was the proud older sister of her two sisters and two brothers. She loved her children and grandchildren and spent years attending music concerts and sporting events.  On Saturday morning, you could find Mary Jo attending farmer’s market and buying from local vendors.  Her grandchildren loved to take Ranger rides and watching Say Yes to the Dress with her.

Mary Jo is survived by her four children, Matthew (Shannon) Vrotsos, Ethan Vrotsos, Alethea Vrotsos, and Jacob Vrotsos; her three grandchildren Ryan (Laura Cook), Madelyne and Chloe Vrotsos; her brother Billy (Pat) Landon of Bailey, CO; sister, Lisa (Larry) Pieper of Union, MO and brother Jimmy Landon of Rockhill, MO; brothers-and sisters-in-law, Mary Smith, Marc (Linda) Vrotsos, Debbie Vrotsos, Don (Juli) Vrotsos, Chris Davis, Blaise (Ann) Vrotsos, Paul (Don) Vrotsos and Peter Vrotsos.

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her loving husband John Vrotsos, her parents William Landon and Elizabeth (Gene) Kieffer, her in-laws Allen and Helen Vrotsos, her sister Debbie Landon, brothers-in-law Michael Smith, Bill Davis, Curt Vrotsos and sister-in-law Ann Hess.

In lieu of flowers memorials in memory of Mary Jo may be given to Jackson County Conservation, EB Lyons/Mines of Spain, Dubuque and NAMI Dubuque.

Mary Jo’s family wishes to thank the Jackson Co Sheriff’s Department, Bellevue EMS and Leonard Funeral Home.