Joseph Jarecke

Joseph L. Jarecke passed away after a short and courageous battle with cancer on February 5, 2016.

Joe was born June 17, 1934, on a farm in Nance County to Walter and Frances (Podraza) Jarecke. He grew up with three brothers and graduated from Fullerton High School in 1952. He then served in the US Army starting in 1954, when he was deployed to Korea as an Army mechanic. He was honorably discharged in 1956. Soon after, he met Anita Mae Augustine and they were united in marriage on June 28, 1958, at St. Bonaventure Church. Together they raised seven children.

Joe had a productive career primarily in sales and construction. His early career included time at Cyclone Fence and a number of construction companies, where he helped build many of the homes in Columbus. He was particularly proud of building the home in which he and his family lived for over 54 years. With his art of conversation and interest in people, he was a natural as a sales representative. He began his sales career at Fuller Brush and Husker Steel. He then worked at Tempo and moved on to Sears where he worked for nearly 20 years. Joe retired from Sears in 1989, but did not stop working. Along with his wife, he managed a number of apartment complexes and Eagle Windows & Doors.

Joe was an involved Columbus citizen who worked selflessly to improve the community. In 1990, he was elected to the Columbus City Council, on which he served for 20 years. During that time, he was instrumental in various city projects, including building a new Hy-Vee, completing the viaduct project and initiating the water park. Joe was a charter member of St. Isidore Parish where he was on the Parish Council and a trustee, a member of Holy Name and served the church in many other capacities. He built the first confessionals, helped initiate the first bazaar, along with the selling of fireworks and Chirstmas trees. He was also a familiar face as an usher and lector. He served on the Scotus School Board, was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and was an instructor for Setting the Limits.

Joe's passion for duck and pheasant hunting was second to none. He loved his early mornings on the Loup River with his boys, friends and dogs. This past Thanksgiving was the first in over 40 years that he missed a morning on the Loup and a just-in-time arrival for turkey and dressing at home. His other hobbies included fishing, carpentry, childrens and grandchildrens sports and traveling. He enjoyed NY, Boston and London, but was happiest when he was with his family, whether in Columbus, Lincoln, Omaha, Billings, MT, or Darien, CT. He was very proud of and dearly loved his wife, each one of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by: wife Anita; children Judy (Jerome) Gates of Columbus, Julie (Davin) Gebauer of Darien, CT, Jeff (Carleen) Jarecke of Darien, CT, Jay (Suzie) Jarecke of Omaha, Jeanne (Bill) Schaffhausen of Lincoln, Janine Jarecke of Columbus, and Jon Jarecke of Lincoln; brother Frank Jarecke of Grand Island; 13 grandchildren Nick (Jackie) Gates, Amanda (Anthony) Sjuts, Anne (Scott) Ronhovde, Dane and Jeffrey Gebauer, Lauren, Sam and Spencer Jarecke, Reed, Jordan and Dylan Jarecke and Natalie and Eli Jarecke; 4 great grandchildren Ayden and Ashton Sjuts and Elladee and Max Joseph Ronhovde; in-laws Tony, Bob and Sam (ViAnn) Augustine, Imogene (Jim) Magnuson and Janis Jarecke; and his 2 dogs Faith and Rascal.

He is preceded in death by: parents Walter and Frances Jarecke, brothers Jerome and Wally Jarecke, infant brother Freddie Jarecke, in-laws Don, Jean and Phyll Augustine, and Florence and Janet Jarecke.

In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials may be made to the Joseph L Jarecke Memorial Fund at the Columbus Community Hospital Foundation (https://www.columbushosp.org/donate_today/make_a_donation.aspx) or to the Joseph L Jarecke Memorial Fund being held at Cornerstone Bank in Columbus, Nebraska, which will be utilized to benefit St. Isidore Church.