JoAnn Steele Thompson

JoAnn Steele Thompson passed away November 30, 2015 at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, TX after a recurring battle with cancer.

JoAnn Mardelle Christensen Steele Thompson was born June 12, 1933, in Newman Grove, Nebraska to Lawrence and Pearl Christensen. She had an older sister, Reona, and an older brother, Virgil. JoAnn was confirmed at Shell Creek Lutheran Church in 1947 and graduated from Newman Grove High School in 1950. She began teaching that fall in Kimball County Nebraska.

In 1953 JoAnn married Robert Steele. To this union they gave birth to four sons, Richard Gene, Daniel Lee, David Joe, and Daryl Brent. These boys were their pride and joy. The family joined and attended First English Lutheran Church in Kimball, Nebraska.

JoAnn graduated from Chadron State College in 1980, the same year her youngest son graduated from high school.

In 1997, Robert retired from farming and ranching, and JoAnn retired from teaching. They enjoyed two years traveling to visit children and grandchildren and enjoyed winters in Texas. When Bob passed away suddenly, JoAnn moved to the Eastgate retirement park in Texas where she and Bob had many friends. She continued her membership at First English Lutheran Church in Kimball, Nebraska, and became an associate member of First United Methodist Church in Harlingen, Texas.

On July 22, 2013, JoAnn married Harold Thompson. She gained three more sons, Jack, Dan and Dale Dvorak. JoAnn and Harold enjoyed traveling to see their seven sons, their many activities with friends at Eastgate and the Methodist Church and companionship with each other.

Memorial services for JoAnn Mardell Christensen Steele Thompson will be held at the

Eastgate retirement park in Harlingen, Texas on December 19 at 2 pm with Pastor David Squire officiating. Future memorial services in Kimball Nebraska are being planned for January 2016 at a date to be determined.

JoAnn is survived by her second husband Harold Thompson, sons Richard (Barb), Daniel (Amy), David and Daryl (Kerry), step sons Jack, Dan and Dale. She has seven grandchildren, Jana, Eric, Brian, Jared, Amanda, Kaleigh and Michael and 3 great grandchildren. Brother-in law Harold (Doris) Steele and sister-in-law Irene Wallin and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Robert Steele, sister Reona Hodge and brother Virgil Christensen, her parents Lawerence and Pearl Christensen, brother-in-laws Bernard, Maurice and Bill Steele.