JoAnn (Nelson) Reiher

JoAnn Kay Reiher, the daughter of Henry W. and Mabel (Wittwer) Nelson, was born August 27, 1943 at Red Cloud, Nebraska. She departed this life on April 11, 2024, at the Webster County Hospital in Red Cloud at the age of 80 years.

JoAnn received her formal education attending Crow Hill rural school in Jewell county, Kansas through the eighth grade. She went to the Red Cloud High School her freshman through junior year, and then graduated from the Lebanon High School with the class of 1961. JoAnn was married to Curt Lewis in 1960, and this union was blessed with two children, Mitchell and Michelle. They lived in Manhattan, Kansas for a period of time while Curt completed his education and during that time JoAnn was employed with the Farm Bureau Insurance Company. They then moved to Concordia, Kansas where JoAnn worked in her husband’s veterinary clinic. After returning to the Red Cloud community, the marriage ended in divorce.

JoAnn was always actively involved in her community. She was employed for many years assisting at the Red Cloud Dental Clinic, and she always was a para for a period of time at the grade school. JoAnn served Webster County as the County Treasurer for sixteen years, and then continued her commitment to public serve, serving three terms as a county commissioner. On December 14, 1985, she was united in marriage with Richard Reiher at Red Cloud.

Her desire to serve her community extended to her membership at the Congregational Red Cloud Bible Church, where she was church treasurer for many years, the Church Women’s Fellowship and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. In her leisure time she had a number of interests including attending to her flowers and following all of her family’s activities. Her greatest love and enthusiasm in life was for her children and grandchildren, and she especially cherished the time they spent together.

Surviving are her husband, Richard Reiher of Red Cloud; her son, Dr. Mitchell Lewis of Hastings, Nebraska; daughter, Michelle Mans and husband, Jeff, of Red Cloud; grandsons, Kyle and Kody Mans; a sister, Faye Nimic of Lincoln, Nebraska; niece, Karin Lamkins and husband, R.G. and son, Scott; other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services were Wednesday, 10:30 am, April 17, 2024, at the Red Cloud Bible Church with the Rev. Chuck Lewis officiating. Interment was at the Red Cloud Cemetery.

Williams Funeral Home
241 West 4th Avenue
Red Cloud, Nebraska  68970

Phone 402-746-2500
williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com

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