M. Joan (Gardner) Yates

M. Joan Yates was born to Charles R. and Mildred (Van Winkle) Gardner on October 2, 1939 in Table Rock, Nebraska.  She lived in Table Rock until her family moved near Mayberry.  She went to school at Burchard and Crab Orchard country school and from the fifth grade on she attended Lewiston High School where she graduated in 1956.

She married Jack Yates on July 28, 1956 at Sidney, IA.  Jack and Joan made their home in Tecumseh where they raised their family.  Joan worked for the Campbell’s Soup Company for a number of years and at the Tecumseh Care Center as a nurse’s aide.

Joan was the President of the VFW Auxiliary and Vice-President of the American Legion Auxiliary in Tecumseh.  She also served on the SENCA advisory board for a number of years.  In her spare time, she enjoyed raising plants and growing flowers, was an avid genealogist from a young age.  She was part of Ancestry Hunters (one of 6 persons in the United States to do it for no charge.)  She loved crocheting, especially Christmas angels, embroidery, raising her family, collecting dolls, antique clocks and miniature trains.  Joan loved Christmas and Easter and all family get togethers.  Her husband Jack passed away November 22, 2019.

She passed away April 11, 2023 at the Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh, Nebraska at the age of 83 years. 

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jack Sr., sons Jack Jr., great-grandson Phoenix Dobbins, daughter Cindy Bowersmith, brother Butch Gardner, sister Charlene Bryant and brothers-in-law Ronald and Dennis Yates. 

She is survived by her sons, Lawrence Yates, Jim Yates and Christopher Yates all of Tecumseh, daughters, Sheila Yates-Vuu and husband Thang of Lincoln, son-in-law Dale Bowersmith of Nebraska City, grandchildren, Billie Trueax, Elizabeth Yates, Claudia Williams, Amanda Hobbs and husband Josh, Brian Vuu, Natasha Dobbins and husband James, Jessie Boeche and husband Andrew and Brandon Mills and wife Ashley, great-grandchildren, Trinity, A’Lexus, Mason, Asher, Jimmy, Beckett, Emery, Levi, Mackenzie and Jaq, brother Eugene Gardner and wife Sheryl of Cook, brothers-in-law Garland Yates and wife Evelyn of Tecumseh and Terry Yates and wife Sharon of Cedar Bluffs, sisters-in-law, Linda Ramsey of Firth, Fern Crom of El Dorado, CO and Betty Yates of Columbus, Mary Jo, Sue and Donna, other family members, Ronnie Uchytil, Noemi Sahs and Ron Boden and many nieces, nephews and friends.  

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at the First Baptist Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska with Pastor Hugh Giesbrecht officiating. The service was also  livestreamed on the Wherry Mortuary Facebook page and a link to the livestream is now available on the bottom of her webpage.   

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. Monday, April 17, 2023 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska.

Memorials may go to the family’s choice.

Interment will be in the Spring Creek Cemetery, rural Tecumseh, Nebraska.

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.

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