Mary Jo Stewart Jaqua passed away at home on February 14, 2025 at the age of 82 after a brief illness.  She was born on May 7, 1942 in Washington, DC to Gilbert W. "Pete" and Ruth Blount Stewart. Her early childhood was in Washington, Boston and New York, moving to Knoxville TN in the 50's where she graduated high school in 1960. In 1969 she married Dr. Richard A. Jaqua in New York City. They moved to South Dakota where she was a content transplant from the South to the Prairies.

Education was important in the Stewart and Jaqua families and Mary Jo received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina (1964), her Master's Degree from the University of NC School of Public Health (1965). After her marriage and the move to South Dakota in 1969, she earned her PhD from the University of South Dakota in 1977.

At that time, Dr. Jaqua became Chief of Microbiology at the VA Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Pathology and of Internal Medicine at USD School of Medicine. This career track took her through many national specialty board certifications, awards and a progression to Full Professor.  She was honored at her time of retirement with the students' Lifetime Achievement Award and an appointment as Professor Emeritus. During her career she was instrumental in starting the USD-SM Clinical Virology Laboratories in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. As Medical Director she put SD on the cutting edge of diagnostic testing for viral disease- a specialty that was in its infancy at the time.

Mary Jo and her husband lived in rural SD overlooking the Big Sioux River and enjoyed their herd of 7 horses- caring for them and trail rides. The land provided them with peace and tranquility, through canoeing, vegetable gardening, landscaping, walks, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, jogging and raising and training German Shepherd dogs.

After retirement in 2002, Mary Jo resumed her study of the cello. She channeled her love for dogs in general and German Shepherds in particular into Therapy Dog work with Therapy Dogs International starting a Sioux Falls Chapter, becoming a Certified Evaluator and promoting the positive impact of dogs for those who needed that special canine love (unconditional). Their retirement years were sadly interrupted by Richard's diagnosis of a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disease that took his life in 2016.  Mary Jo remained his best friend and care provider. Prayer and trust in God brought peace.

Preceding her in death were her parents Ruth and Pete, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John F. Jaqua and Jan Jaqua, and husband Richard.

Grateful for having shared her life are her brother, GW (Pete) Stewart (Astrid Schmidt-Nielsen, Durham, NC, step-brothers, David Denton (Judith Meyer) Knoxville, TN and Dick Denton (Laura) Gaithersburg, MD, nieces and nephews: Michael Stewart, Atlanta, GA, Laura Stewart (Bryce Hurst), Riley and Lydia Hurst, Kingsport, TN, Tom McHugh (Danielle) and Mimi, Houston, TX, Mimi McHugh and John, Joseph and David Liles, Trenton, ME,  Kathryn Jaqua, Phoenix, AZ, Emily Singer (Andrew), Los Angeles, CA, Sarah Kallsen, Joseph and Elizabeth Kallsen, Ames, IA, Susan Albers (Tim) and Andrew, Baldwyn, MS, Sarah (Karl) and Henry Hahn, Pontotoc, MS, Ben (Monica) and Anastasia, Elijah and Ambrose, Birmingham, AL, John F. Jaqua IV (Christie) Scottsdale, AZ.

A celebration of Mary Jo's life will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2:00 p.m. at Dow Rummel Chapel, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with family present one hour prior for visitation.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lutheran Social Services- Focused Acts of Kindness, Feeding South Dakota, Dow Rummel Chapel Fund or a charity of your choice.