JoAnn Wecker

JoAnn Wecker, 90, of O'Neill, died Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 at the Good Samaritan Center in Atkinson.

Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in O'Neill.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024 at the hall in O'Neill.

Burial will be in the O'Neill Cemetery in O'Neill.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill was in charge of the arrangements.

JoAnn was born on Jan. 2, 1934 in Plainview to Adolph and Bessie (Pochop) Kudera. She graduated from Plainview High School in 1951. 

On Nov. 4 1951, she married Donald Wecker in Plainview. They lived in Omaha before moving to O'Neill to raise their family in 1953.

JoAnn was a housewife until the early 70s when she decided to attend nursing school in Norfolk. JoAnn worked at St. Anthony's Hospital as an LPN in surgery and later in central supply before retiring in 1988. She then worked with her husband Don doing the books for Wecker Construction Equipment and Repair. She closed the business after Don passed away in 1990 and bought O'Neill Fire Extinguisher Co. which kept her busy for a few years. 

  JoAnn had many passions and she did them all well. She played softball until she broke her ankle in her late 30s. Cast and all, she still managed to drive and take good care of everyone. She was a champion bowler as evidenced by all the trophies she had.  She also excelled at golfing, traveling many miles competing in tournaments.  Her greatest accomplishment however, was raising her six children.  

While raising her kids and working, she managed to can food, butcher chickens and work endlessly to make sure all their needs were met. She was an amazing mother who always managed to keep the troubles of the world at bay. Anyone who showed up at the house always had a bed to sleep in and an overabundance of food to eat at all hours of the day or night. Family was always a priority to her. When her family was visiting, there was always a game of pitch to be played. It could get kind of wild sometimes, but those are the memories we all love.  She was a trailblazer who went her own way. Her grandchildren were the apples of her eye. There was never a lack of pickles, olives or fruit roll ups for her grandchildren. They had the best life while at her house, and she reminded us parents that she could and would spoil them in any way possible before sending them home. She was the matriarch, the glue that held us all together, the one who never failed us and the one who worried about us all until her last breath.

  In retirement, she wintered in Arizona where she met John Winter and eventually moved there to live year-round. They could be found golfing their way across the country, enjoying family and friends wherever they went. John passed away in 2022.  

She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary 93 and First Presbyterian Church in O'Neill.

JoAnn is survived by her six children Bruce (Kathe) Wecker of O'Neill, Mark (Kristie) Wecker of Clear Lake, MI, Dale (Kerrie Patterson) Wecker of Maple Grove, MN, Alan Wecker of Chambers, Dana (Valerie) Wecker of O'Neill and Shelley Fox of Viborg, SD; 13 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; one sister Lois Maas of Garvin, MN; three brothers Jim (Helen) Kudera of Covington, KY, Adolph III (Linda) Kudera of Yankton, SD and Gene Kudera of Sioux City, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Adolph and Bessie Kudera; her husband Donald Wecker; her special friend John Winter; five siblings Adolph II "Buddy", Ed (Kathryn), John (Phylli), Bob (Twila) and Betty; one daughter-in-law Marian Wecker; and two grandsons Chip and Kelley.