JoAnne Marjorie Meents, 82 passed peacefully earlier this year on March 11, 2020. A private family burial was held March 21 at Salem Lutheran Cemetery south of Rosemont. Joanne was laid to rest beside her husband Wayne and infant daughter.
JoAnne was born Oct. 9, 1937 on ta farm in Webster county Nebraska to Rhinehart W. and Lillian (Schmidt) Wibben. She graduated from Blue Hill High School in 1955 and worked at the Blue Hill Medical Clinic.
She married Robert E. Kile on June 1, 1958 Robert died on Feb. 13, 1963.
Joanne married Wayne W. Meents on May 1, 1964. They moved to the Meents family farm south of Rosemont in 1967 where she lived until June 2018. She loved gardening, baking, and her beautiful flowers were admired by many. In 1990 the farm was presented the Pioneer Farm Award .
JoAnne was baptized December 1938 at St. Paul Lutheran Church and became a member of Calvary Lutheran Church, Rosemont where she was confirmed May 1966. She taught Sunday School and directed Vacation Bible School for many years. Joanne served on the Alter Guild and enjoyed beautifying the church throughout the seasons. Her church family provided friendships and community her entire life.
JoAnne served as a state representative for School Unit #9 to expand resources for special education services. She was a lifelong learner, researching new alternative methods to care for Wayne and daughter Sally’s juvenile diabetes. Her care and concern for others was evident in how she lived her life every day. JoAnne sent beautifully handwritten letters and cards, comforted others during a loss, or took time to provide words of encouragement to friends or neighbors in need.
JoAnne’s children and grandchildren were a great joy in her life. Left to carry on her legacy and cherished memories are her five daughters and four grandchildren, Julie (Kile) Trout and husband, Bryan of Omaha, Sally Meents of Gretna, Connie Kelehan and husband, Lou of Des Moines, IA, Peggy DeLay and husband, Jerry and daughter, Emmy of Phoenix, AZ, and Becky Koepke and husband, John and daughter, Lauren of Tempe, AZ, grandsons, Justin Trout and wife, Maija of Sioux Falls, SD, and Jacob Trout and wife, Shelby of Missoula, MT; one sister, Virgie and husband, Richard Gildersleeve of Hastings; sisters-in-law, Virginia James, Kathy Kile, Eleanor Kile, Marlene Meents, Kathy and husband, Paul Battiste; many nieces and nephews; and a host of neighbors and friends.
JoAnne was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather; husbands, Robert E. Kile and Wayne W. Meents; and a stillborn daughter.
This poem was given to JoAnne upon the passing of her husband Robert. The original tattered handwritten letter was recently found. It provided Joanne numerous points of comfort and courage as she continued through her life by picking up that thread and weaving an incredible legacy.
The Golden Thread
The pattern of my life has changed,
For life has brought a sorrow.
The pattern must be rearranged,
To fit a new tomorrow.
Altho my eyes are blind with tears
Altho my hands are weary,
Tomorrow’s duty still appears
Altho today is dreary.
The pattern of my life remains
However, it may alter.
And I must straighten the tread
With hands that never falter.
A thread was broken yesterday
A thread I loved so dearly,
But I must brush the tears away,
Look bravely, and see clearly.
The pattern of my life is mine
A thing that I must finish.
The time may alter it’s design,
It’s brightness may diminish.
A little kneeling by my dead
A little hour of grieving,
Now I must take up the thread
Of life, and go on weaving.
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