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Barbara Joan Denker Barbara Joan Denker was born Nov. 28, 1932, in Dundy County, Neb., to George Jr. and Leona (Buffington) Schwenk. As a girl she attended country school and graduated from Wauneta High School in 1950. Joan moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., after graduation and began working for an insurance company. She also earned an LPN license while living in Colorado. Joan returned to Wauneta and married Donald G. Denker on Oct. 4, 1953, at St. Paul¹s Lutheran Church, rural Wauneta, Neb. and to this union two children were born: Kurt on June 27, 1955, and Michelle on Dec. 13, 1958. Before the children¹s arrival and after they left home, Joan continued her nursing career as a nurse and later a nurse¹s aid at Dundy County Hospital. Joan and Donald settled on the Denker Home Place in 1960 and farmed until Donald¹s death in 1988. In 1989, Joan moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she made her home near daughter, Michelle, and granddaughter, Kelsie. Joan passed away Monday, June 18, 2012, at the Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was 79 years of age. Joan was a member of St. Paul¹s Lutheran Church of rural Wauneta, Neb. She enjoyed many hobbies including gardening and drawing‹using charcoal or pencil. She also enjoyed writing poetry, reading and attending Omaha Performing Arts events, being it dance, or the symphony. Movies were her favorite and she especially loved car pooling granddaughter, Kelsie and Kelsie¹s friends to their activities. Joan is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; infant grandson, Cody Sis; son-in-law, Steve Sis; and brother, Emerson Schwenk. Joan is survived by her son, Kurt Denker and wife, Minnie, of Harlingen, Texas; daughter, Michelle Sis of Council Bluffs, Iowa; granddaughter, Kelsie Sis of Council Bluffs, Iowa; step-grandson, Joe Bolado of Ashville, NC and great grandson, Aiden Bolado. Visitation was held Thursday afternoon, June 21, 2012, 2-6 p.m. at the funeral home in Wauneta. Funeral services for Joan Denker were held at 11 a.m. Friday morning, June 22, 2012, at St. Paul¹s Lutheran Church of rural Wauneta, Neb. with Pastor Keith Wellman and Pastor Greg Stuckwisch officiating. Interment followed at St. Paul¹s Lutheran Cemetery. A memorial has been established in Joan¹s memory to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences can be left at liewerfuneralhome.com Liewer Funeral Home of Wauneta was in charge of arrangements.

Tributes

Joan Denker

November 28, 1932 - June 18, 2012