Janelva R. "Jo" (Drummond) Qualls

Janelva “Jo” Ruth Qualls, 71, was born November 16, 1949, to Henry F. and Kathryn M. “Deane” Drummond, in Omaha, Nebraska.  She passed peacefully from this life to life eternal on November 20, 2020, in her home, surrounded by her loving family.

 She and her older brother, Gerald Drummond, grew up in Wichita, KS.  She graduated Southeast High School in 1967; and Wichita State University in 1972 with her B.S. degree in Elementary Education.

 She married Dan Qualls on May 23, 1970, at Central Assembly of God Church in Wichita, KS.

 God blessed them with two children:  Jennifer Erin Campbell, 1972, and Ryan Daniel Qualls, 1981.

 Jo loved teaching and guiding children.  She taught Kindergarten and Pre-School before the limitations of her health made her step back.  A devoted, creative, faithful, and loving mother, she lived on mission to invest in and help shape the lives of her children.  Today, “her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Proverbs 31:28).  She served as a volunteer leader in several churches as her husband’s ministry took them to various states.  Her assignments ran from teaching a kindergarten class, to leading a department with 30 teachers and 125 students, to leading a women’s Bible study that formally met for 14 years, but whose friendships have endured for 30.

 She was a faithful and devoted wife, modeling the role of a true, Christian wife.  Since 2007 she and her husband have lived in the Quad Cities, pastoring Bethel Assembly of God Church in Rock Island.

 A tragic fall in 1975 changed the trajectory of her life.  Severe back pain ensued causing a chronic condition that only worsened with age.   Countless lives have marveled at her joy in the midst of suffering.  Today she is free.  Free of pain---no more chains, no more bondage, no more tears.  Her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord was clear, and is exemplified in the words of her favorite song, He’s Been Faithful.  “In my own suffering, through every pain, every tear, there’s a God who’s been faithful to me. When my strength was all gone, when my heart had no song, still in love He’s proved faithful to me.”

Jo was received in Heaven by her loving Savior Jesus, and waiting next to Him were many loved ones who have passed before, including her parents, Henry and Deane, in-laws, Bill and Martha, beloved sister-in-law Nola, and a rowdy and ecstatic crew of dear dogs, cats, fish and one doted on canary. 

Her legacy of fierce love, wonderful creativity, and deep generosity will be carried on through her children, Erin and Ryan, their spouses, Aaron Richard Campbell and Rachel Anne Qualls, as well as her cherished grandchildren, Paige Renae, Noah Marcus Daniel, Jack North, and Mila Ryan. “May His favor be upon you, and a thousand generations, and your family, and your children, and their children, and their children.”

Her virtual service is noon Wednesday, November 25, and will be posted after that.  Search “Remembering Jo Qualls” on Facebook or YouTube. A drive-through visitation will be at Bethel Assembly of God, Rock Island, from 2-4 pm Wednesday.  Burial service will be in Wichita, Kansas, on Monday, November 30, in Greenwood Cemetery at 10:30 am.  A socially responsible Memorial Reception to follow at West Evangelical Free Church, from 2-4 pm.  To help the family with the cost of expenses search “Remembering Jo Qualls” on Facebook, or contact Bethel Assembly of God, 309-793-5000.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Janelva R. "Jo" (Drummond) Qualls, please visit our floral store.