Janice J. Guthrie

A Funeral Service for Janice Guthrie will be held on Friday, February 13, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Holdrege Methodist Church at Holdrege, Nebraska, with Pastor Scott Guthrie officiating.

A Graveside Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Alma Cemetery, Alma, Nebraska.

Janice Jean (Jesske) Guthrie, 86 years of age, of Holdrege, formerly of rural Ragan, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, February 9, 2026, at the Phelps Memorial Health Center at Holdrege. Janice was born in Webster County, Nebraska, near Blue Hill, Nebraska, on April 9, 1939, the third of four children born to Albert and Edna (Wademan) Jesske. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Hill. Janice received her primary education from a country school in Webster County and then attended and graduated from Blue Hill Public Schools, with the class of 1956.

Following her education, Janice worked as a Nurse's Aid at the Holdrege Hospital and at Hested's in Holdrege.  On May 26, 1961, Janice was united in marriage to Wayne L. Guthrie in Minden, Nebraska.  The couple made their home on a farm near Ragan and were blessed with four children:  Tracy, Anita, Jerry and Stuart.

Janice loved to work outside, especially in her garden, and attending hand corn husking with her husband, and families.

She enjoyed cooking for her family and others and meeting and serving others at the Post Office in Ragan, the Cafe in Ragan, and later, at Ace/True Value in Holdrege.  She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and later, her great-grandchildren.

Janice was a member of the Ragan Methodist Church for many years.

Janice was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Guthrie in 2020; her parents; her siblings: Howard Jesske; and Joyce Lenstrom and her husband, Daryl; a nephew, Paul Lenstrom; and grandson, Jared Pekarek; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Alberta Covey and her husband, Albert; Geraldine "Gerry" Richards and her husbands: Millard Covey and Leland Richards; Garnett Covey and her husband, Donald; Alpha Fries and her husband, Wayne; Thelma Soderberg and her husband, Vern; Myrna Guthrie; LaVerne Guthrie and his wife, Barbara; Omer Guthrie and his wife, Wanda; Harold Guthrie; John "Jack" Guthrie and his wife, Carol; Cecil Guthrie; and Merlin Meyer.

Janice is survived by her children: daughter, Anita Pekarek of Kearney, Nebraska; three sons: Tracy Guthrie and his wife, Sharisse of Holdrege; Jerry Guthrie of rural Ragan; and Stuart Guthrie and his wife, Tami of rural Ragan; eight grandchildren: Vince Guthrie and his wife, Desiree of rural Ragan; Shana Nitchie and her husband, Scott of Holdrege; Tyler Guthrie and his wife, Brooke of rural Ragan; Callie Nelson of Lincoln; Riley Guthrie and his wife, Jenni of Alma, Nebraska; Melissa Guthrie of Kearney; Bailey Hockemeier and her husband, Aaron of Kearney; and Brooke Greving and her husband, Colton of Minden, Nebraska; 15 great-grandchildren; her sister, Hilda Meyer of Campbell, Nebraska; brother-in-law, Dale Guthrie and his wife, Lou Ann of Ragan; four sisters-in-law: Florence Maxwell of Alma; Eleanor Rogers of Holbrook, Nebraska; Linda Guthrie of Hastings, Nebraska; and Donna Guthrie of rural Holdrege; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Memorials are kindly suggested to Camp Joy; or to the family for future designation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.