Joanna Busse
Joanna Jean Busse, 82, of Valentine, Neb., formerly of Broken Bow died April 20, 2022 at Cherry Hills Estates Assisted Living in Valentine.
Joanna was born June 20, 1939 at a farm home near Ansleyto Wilmer (Bud) and Melva (Oxford) Dunkel. She was the second of four children.
She started school at Union Valley and finished eighth grade at Spencer Park school near Berwyn. She attended Broken Bow and graduated from BBHS in the class of 1957.
Joanna married Dale Thomas in 1958 and lived in Wyoming and Colorado for several years. One daughter, Deborah Kay, was born to this union. They were later divorced. She later moved back to Nebraska.
In 1972 she married Harvey Busse in Broken Bow and one daughter, Renee Jean, was born to this union. They then moved to Berwyn and lived there. They built a new house in
1975 and she lived there until 2016.
She worked at the County Assessor’s office in Broken Bow for over 30 years, retiring in 2006 as the deputy assessor. She was proceeded in death by Harvey in 2004.
Joanna was a member the United Methodist Church in Broken Bow. She was a member of the Quilters Guild and a member of the Red Hat Society. She enjoyed gardening and painting on dish towels.
She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed spending time with her friends during coffee at Custer Heights.
She is survived by daughter Deborah (Warren) Jackson of Valentine and Renee Sommer and Lawrence Stump of Broken Bow; grandchildren Michaela (David) Williamson of Minnesota, Savannah of Chadron, Katelynn and Brennann of Valentine and August, Felicia, and Aliyah of Broken Bow; brothers Don (Marie) Dunkel of Lincoln and Dick (Roberta) of Ogallala; and sisters-in-law Sandra Dunkel of Broken Bow and Nancy Busse of Texas; several nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceeded in death by her husband Harvey; parents; brother Wilmer (Junior) Dunkel; brothers-in-law Donald Wittig and Leroy Busse; and sister-in-law Norma Wittig.