EAGLE RIVER WI/DECATUR IL--Amanda Jo Keck passed on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at the age of 39 after a long illness. She was born on January 18, 1981 and grew up in Sayner, WI. She graduated from Northland Pines High School in Eagle River, Wi. She spent many years in IL and considered Decatur her second home. She moved back to Eagle River in 2017.

She is survived by her mother, Nancy Pauline Johnson; her step father Perry Junkermann, three half sisters, Karla, Jennifer, and Shelby; three uncles Jerry (Carolyn) Johnson, Danny(Anne) Johnson, and Elmer Keck, her step aunt Karen (Chris) Nolan and step uncles Kelly (Rosemary) Junkermann, Brad Junkermann, and Rich (Dunja) Junkermann, and step grandparents Charles and Carol Rassmussin, her cat Google, many cousins and numerous friends. She is preceded in death by her father Robert Lee Keck; one uncle Thomas Johnson; and her grandparents, Phyllis and Henry Johnson and Edna and Elmer Keck and step uncle Kurt Junkermann.

Amanda in her own words: "I'm a theatrical kind of person" Theater was her passion. She was a sensitive, kind, and loving with talent and some days the temperament of an artist. She played many roles from high school plays to community theaters in Illinois and Wisconsin. Her last role as the Baker's Wife in the musical "Into the Woods" was her dream come true. The people in theater were her kind of people and it was where she felt at home.

She described herself as an introvert who was outgoing when she was with friends. She accepted people from all walks of life and made lasting friends everywhere she went. She belonged to the Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Woodruff, WI and was member of the Social Justice Committee.

Her talents and hobbies ranged from music, both playing and listening, singing, women's handiwork, many friends have examples of her crochet, many kinds of crafts, reading and collecting as many books as she could, sitting under a tree and reading were at the top of her list. When she could go out she enjoyed plays, concerts, karaoke and trivia. She spent many hours listening to NPR or to podcasts. She loved to travel and her friends gave her many opportunities. Denali National Park, Boston and Seattle were good memories that she often talked about. Trees were important to her and Allerton in Monticello, IL and the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL were favorite places for her to spend her time. She had a connection to the Gingo trees at the Arboretum and would visit them every chance she could.

In honor of her memory, be an advocate for equality and social justice. Protect the environment, plant a tree, save the Bees, believe the scientists, give respect and compassion to those less fortunate, support public education and, so important to her, health care for all. Vote! She was an old soul and a sensitive soul who gave love to even those who mistreated her. Her life's work was to help others to understand how misinformation about her illness and attitudes about different ways of life affected how we live together. Her message was to love and value each other and to treat, people, animals and the earth with respect.

Her final resting place will be at Natural Path Sanctuary in Verona where she will be in nature and with the trees. Online condolences may be made at www.jensenfuneralandcremation.com