Johanna “Jo” Lenore (Lenz) Fusco passed away peacefully at home on February 11, 2026, surrounded by family. Jo was born on November 22, 1938, to Jean Elizabeth (Kirby) and Robert Carl Lenz in Omaha, Nebraska. She attended Southeast High School in Kansas City, graduating class of 1956, before moving on to Grinnell College to major in American Studies. After graduating in 1960, she attended law school at the University of Florida, achieving her J.D. in 1963 and graduating at the top of her class. Practicing law for a few years in Jacksonville, Florida led Jo to choose a different career path. She spent much of her professional career in the insurance business, financial planning and, notably, she was Executive Director of Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Broward County, Florida for many years, a role that she found extremely rewarding.

In 1976 while living in South Florida, she met her husband Ken in a Certified Life Underwriter tax class and they married in 1977. Before they moved to Durango, Colorado in 1995, she was active in the Fort Lauderdale business community, being involved in Leadership Broward, Junior Achievement, Women’s Executive Club, and the Life Underwriters Association of Broward. She even served as President for these latter two organizations.

After retiring and moving to Durango, if you wanted to find Jo you would have to look outside. In the summers she was biking, rafting, hiking 14ers, and golfing. In the winter she was on the slopes, traveling extensively in the southwest seeking the best powder, and sometimes heli-skiing. When she had to come inside, you would find her reading, meeting with her book clubs, doing yoga, playing bridge with friends, or singing. She was a member of the Durango Choral Society and the choir at First Presbyterian Church. One major highlight for her was when the DCS performed at Carnegie Hall. She was active in the First Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder. She also performed several private wedding ceremonies and was honored to be involved so intimately as dear friends started new lives together.

Jo loved to travel. She and Ken traveled the world, usually in search of outdoor adventures. They crossed North America in their 5th wheel, adventuring from Alaska to Florida and all places in between.

Jo is survived by her husband of 49 years, Ken, of Durango, her brother Bob Lenz, Jr. of Tacoma, Washington, sisters Marilyn (Terry) Imel and Carolyn (Ron) Crawford of Lawrence, Kansas, son Ken (Sue) Fusco of Bayfield, Colorado, and daughters Deborah (Danny Wescott) Cunningham of Austin, Texas and Johanna (Lucius) Lobdell of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida, as well as six grandchildren: Alyssa, Michael, Annette, Hannah, Mac, and Elizabeth, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Jean and Bob Lenz and daughter Jill.

Jo’s Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 14th, at 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church (1159 East 3rd Avenue, Durango, Colorado) and will be streamed online. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research in Jo Fusco’s memory. Online donations may be made at www.wingsofhopepcr.org. Donations may also be made to Wings of Hope and mailed to Maureen Shul, Wings of Hope, 8404 Brambleridge Dr, Castle Pines, Colorado 80108. Every donation received goes directly toward raising awareness and funding pancreatic cancer research at the University of Colorado Cancer Center.