Christian Biography of JoAnne M. Edwards

JoAnne Marie Sorensen Edwards, was the first child born to Nels and Marie (Hansen) Sorensen on January 26, 1932 at Brodstone Memorial Hospital in Superior, Nebraska. She passed away on September 3, 2024 at the Good Samaritan Society, Superior, Nebraska at the age of 92 years, 7 months, 8 days.

Her parents lived on the lease until 1939, where she attended Miller Country School for 3 years. During that time her teacher had her and a classmate recite for the Nuckolls County Teachers at one of their meetings in Nelson.

When her family moved to the Sorensen home place in 1939, she attended Weimer Country School until December of 1943, when the school house burned. This happened just before Christmas, and her parents sent her to the Hardy Public School right away. After Christmas the school had a new music teacher, Mildred Leigh, under her direction the operetta "Cinderella" was presented by the Junior High and grade school students. She cast JoAnne in the role of Cinderella. This played a big part in developing JoAnne's love of music. She had taken piano lessons since she was 7 years old and went on to take both piano and voice lessons at Hastings College in her Junior and Senior year, thus she garnered a "Superior" on her vocal solo at music contest when she was a Senior.

JoAnne represented Rodney Soper Union #179 at Girls State in Lincoln after her Junior year and won the State Office of Railway Commissioner. She was class Valedictorian. She attended the University of Nebraska receiving a Bachelors of Music in Education degree in June of 1953. While attending UNL she was a member of the Kappa Delta and Mu Phi Epsilon sororities and became engaged to Glenn Edwards. She taught music in the Madrid Public School for 1 year while Glenn served in Korean war in the Army.  They had dated since their senior year in High School, before coming home to be married at the Hardy Union Church in 1954. They lived on the Sorensen home place until 1957, when they bought the Wilber Petersen place a half mile north. Their son Greg was born while living on the Sorensen home place, Jeff, Becky, and Randy were born after they moved.

JoAnne taught kindergarten 1 year and music 3 years in the Hardy Public School. She gave piano lessons for 60 years. She belongs to the Hardy Women's club, American Legion Auxiliary for over 60 years, directed the Union Church Harmonettes and assisted the director for many years. She played the organ at the Hardy Union Church for 38 years, and was a member of the Women's Christian Union over 60 years. She served in every office and directed the Farmerettes for 10 years. She also enjoyed playing Bridge and Pinochle. She was selected as a Personality of the West and Midwest in and was voted to be one of the outstanding young women in 1967.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Sandra Bothwell; grandson-in-law Matthew Carpenter.

Survivors include her husband Glenn "Dane" of Hardy; children: Greg (Rhonda) of Hardy;  Jeff (Laurie) of Scottsdale, Arizona; Becky (Steve) Bruening of Superior; and Randy (Shelly) of Lincoln; 11 grandchildren: Matt (Jessi) Edwards, Lance Edwards, Gina (Nick) Kroon, Blake Edwards, Logan Edwards, Lainey Edwards, Brittany Carpenter, Rachel (Zach) Loucks, Stacy (TJ) Froehlich, Katelyn (Tyler) Evans and Alex (Jalen) Weeks; 17 great grandchildren: Lilly, Dylan, Marley, Nola, Emma, Krae, Ella, Kora, Wyatt, Barrett, Elsie, Callan, Max, Sam, Beau, Crew, Jack and one on great grandson arriving any day; siblings: Tom (Judi) Sorensen of Hardy, and Nancy (Gary) Bargen of Olathe, Kansas and several brother and sister-in-law's, Lawrence "Lefty" Bothwell of Superior, Marilyn Edwards of Omaha, Nebraska, Lorelei Edwards of Geneva, Joan Edwards of Superior, Margaret Tomlinson of Lincoln, Donna (Jim) Miller of Superior and Kenny Edwards of Sabetha, Kansas, nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 2:00 pm from the Union Church in Hardy, Nebraska with Danny Jackson officiating with Tommy Sorensen as the reader.

Music was "What A Wonderful World" "Jesus Loves Me" "In The Good Ol Summertime" "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with April Christensen as the accompanist and Emma Kroon as the soloist.

Visitation was held on Sunday from 11:00 am until service time at the church.

Pallbearers were Matt Edwards, Lance Edwards, Blake Edwards, Nick Kroon, Tyler Evans, T.J. Froehlich, Jalen Weeks, Zach Loucks and Logan Edwards.

Interment was in the Hardy Cemetery at Hardy, Nebraska.

Memorials are suggested to go to the Hardy Cemetery Association.

Condolences may be sent to Megrue-Price Funeral Home, 750 N Commercial, Superior, Nebraska 68978 or in care of www.pricefuneralhomes.com.

Megrue-Price Funeral Home of Superior, Nebraska was in charge of the arrangements.