Jo Ann Buerger

Jo Ann loved Austin and was proud to be a fifth-generation Austinite. She was born on March 27, 1939, to Erby and Mona Sue (Bowling) Raven.

She graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1957 and attended The University of Texas at Austin. Jo Ann worked for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for 10 years and for the Austin Independent School District for 22 years, retiring in 1995. She married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Richard, and the two shared 72 wonderful years together.

Jo Ann was an active member of St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, where she was baptized and confirmed. Over the years, she held many positions there. Her volunteer work took place both within and outside the church, and she was a dedicated volunteer at the Central Texas Food Bank.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Don Raven. She is survived by her husband, Richard; her son, Chris Buerger and his wife, Renee, of Georgetown, Texas; and her daughters, Julie McElrath of Austin, Texas, and Dawn Rathke and her husband, Tom, of Leander, Texas. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren, who were the light of her life: Cailin McElrath and husband, Kris Wilber; Daniel McElrath and wife, Katie; Raven Youngblood and husband, Shawn Fisher; Ty Youngblood and wife, Danielle; Jay and Zoie Youngblood; and Gabrielle, Zach, and Jillian Buerger; and by five great-grandchildren: Emmett and Bouldin McElrath, Sawyer and Hank Wilber, and Wyatt Youngblood.

A memorial service will be held at St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th St., Austin, Texas 78701, on Friday, November 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception immediately following at the church.