Joan Adare Brejcha was born on the family farm, two miles south and one and a half west of Gresham on June 12, 1931.
She was the third of eight children born to Paul and Gladys (Clark) Lindstrom. (Clark, Patricia, Joan, Richard, Fred, Frances, Margy and Thomas) Joan attended the Pidgeon country school district #72 through the seventh grade. She finished her high school years at Gresham High School and graduated in May 1949. After graduation, she moved to Lincoln and worked in the state building doing clerical work.
In 1951 while attending a dance at the Playmor Ballroom, she met the love of her life, Alfred G. Brejcha. They were married the following year on Aug. 31, 1952, at the Methodist Church in Gresham. They had their reception two weeks later at Saline Center by Wilber. To this union, five children were born – Jean A., Alfred P., William R., John T., and Rodney D.. They made their home on a farm three miles north of Western.
Jo and Al labored with a lot of love to raise five children, manage the household and farm together. In the early 1980s, Joan went to work at Swingsters in Fairbury. She enjoyed sewing and made a career out of it. Al and Jo enjoyed farming together until Al's retirement in 1991. Joan continued to work at Swingters in Fairbury as a seamstress until her retirement in 1993. Jo enjoyed baking cakes for birthdays, weddings and special events. She fondly used “cake baker” for her CB radio name. Jo had a secret pie crust recipe that she shared with very few, it was Al's favorite. When football Saturdays would come around, she always enjoyed listening to her favorite team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. GO BIG RED!
In her spare time, she enjoyed doing embroidery. She made many cherished quilts for babies, weddings, gifts and even family reunions. Jo took pride and had fun gardening. Al and Jo together made a yard full of lawn decorations that Jo would place strategically in her beautiful flower beds. Jo and Al were members of ZCBJ lodge #389 Saline Center dance hall. They attended and worked at many events there.
Together they enjoyed dancing to a good polka. Jo was the captain and Al was the co-pilot of their motorhome. She enjoyed driving many miles to visit out-of-state family, friends and attend the antique engine shows. Camp Creek, Nebraska, and Cottonwood Springs, Arizona, were two of many antique show favorites.
Joan is survived by daughter, Jean (Tracy) Remmenga, Wymore; sons, Alfred P. (Debra) Brejcha. Fairbury, William R. (Terri) Brejcha, Western, and Rodney D. (Thais) Brejcha, Friend; grandchildren, Roland Moellenberndt, Jennifer Moellenberndt, Clarkson (Jennifer) Brejcha, Wendy WIlliams. Jessica Brejcha, Kimberly Anderson, Amber Brejcha. Malissa (Scott) Walton, Malinda (Deloy) Davison, Amanda (Colby) Walker. Heather (Ralph) Paez, Rachel Brejcha, Tiffany (Brandon) Rausch. Dr. Lindsay (Dr. Carlos) Torres, Claire (Sam Dalton) Brejcha, Anna Brejcha. Sister Margy Thomas, and Brother Thomas (Patsy) Lindstrom; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Shutts; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Alfred G.; her parents, Paul and Gladys (Clark) Lindstrom; brothers, Clark, Richard and Fred; sisters and brother-in-law, Patricia and Robert Lucke, Frances and Vernon Allen, and Oscar Milton Thomas; son, John T. Brejcha; great-grandson, Mattix Wilson; and her special fur baby, “Alice.”
There will be a private family inurnment at the Northfork Cemetery in Western. Arrangements by Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services.
