Joan Ruth (Uhri) Kotouc

Joan Ruth (Uhri) Kotouc passed away on February 4, 2025, at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona following a fall in her home in Green Valley on January 23, 2025.  Joan was born on the family farm south of Humboldt, Nebraska on March 14, 1933. Her parents were the late John Uhri and Ruth (Penn) Uhri.  Joan was raised on the farm and attended Rosedale Country School south of Humboldt through the 8th grade. She then attended Humboldt High School and graduated with the Class of 1950. In 1949, she was crowned queen of the Richardson County, Nebraska fair.

On January 12, 1952, Joan married Eugene M. Kotouc at Rockport, Missouri. Soon after their marriage, Gene Kotouc joined the U.S. Army and Joan was a military wife for 20 years. Gene and Joan loved to travel and during Gene’s military time and their retirement, they traveled extensively in the United States, visiting all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia.

Joan was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Humboldt, Nebraska and the Officers Wives Club. She worked for Dr. Lloyd Diedrickson, Boeing, Whitaker Cable Company and Ambassador Cards. She volunteered as a Vacation Bible School teacher, Blue Bird leader and at the Officers Wives Thrift Store.

Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Gene Kotouc, her son, Terry Gene Kotouc, her parents, her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Milton Kotouc and Nellie Holman Kotouc, three brothers, John William Uhri and wife Dorothy, Dr. Robert Uhri and Gordon Uhri and wife Colleen, her sister, Jean Saal and husband Bob and sister-in-law Jane Hedberg and husband William.

She is survived by two daughters: Jonell Kotouc of Green Valley, AZ; Robbin Kotouc of Clatskanie, OR; grandson, Steven Kotouc of California and granddaughter, Audrey Kotouc, of Washington, great-grandsons, Hayden Kotouc of California and Dawson Kotouc of Washington and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at the Four-Mile Congregational Church south of Humboldt. Inurnment will be with her dog, Peety, her longtime companion, at the Humboldt Cemetery in Humboldt, Nebraska.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the “Community for the Pool” project, Humboldt, NE.

Condolences can be shared online at www.wherrymortuary.com

Services entrusted to Wherry Mortuary-207 Nemaha ST-Humboldt, NE 68376 (402) 862-2915

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