JoAnn Rager

JoAnn Rager, 82, of Emerson, NE died on Monday, June 20, 2016 at Heritage of Emerson. Funeral services for JoAnn will be held on Friday, June 24, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Emerson with Vicar Rebecca Truland officiating. The visitation will be held on Thursday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery of Emerson. Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home of Emerson is in charge of the arrangements. JoAnn was born April 21, 1934 in Walthill, Nebraska, the daughter of Lanie and Artie Lee (Deckard) Nunn. She attended school at Walthill, Nebraska. JoAnn was married to Robert (Bob) Rager in Dakota City, Nebraska on July 18, 1953. To this union of marriage they had eight great children. JoAnn worked for Waldbaum’s, Automatic Equipment, and also drove school bus for Emerson-Hubbard schools. She was a member of the Emerson Firemen’s Auxiliary for several years. She enjoyed baking, cooking, watching her children play sports, keeping book at softball games and following her daughters around watching them umpire. And later in life, watching Downton Abbey, putting puzzles together and going to the casinos. But most of all, she enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. JoAnn is survived by three sons; Butch (Teresa) of Thayer, Iowa, Bob (Betty) and Bill (Rhonda) both of Emerson, Nebraska; five daughters; twins Lela Rager of Emerson, Nebraska and Lila (Bob) Hadcock of Decatur, Nebraska, Patty (Ken) Pojar of South Sioux City, Nebraska, Jackie (Rick) Claassen of Dakota City, Nebraska and Paula (Karen Mackey) of Sioux City, Iowa. JoAnn is also survived by thirteen grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren and sister, Ella Petersen of North Bend, Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her husband Bob in 2009, three grandchildren: Anthony E Kubik, Joshua R Rager and April Joy Claassen, her parents and ten siblings.