Jean Hays

Mass of Christian Burial for Jean Hays will be conducted from the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska on Monday, September 17, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. with Father Thomas Lux officiating.  Interment will be held in the Edison Cemetery at Edison, Nebraska, following the services.
Dolores "Jean" (Varwig) Hays, 88 years of age, of Holdrege, (formerly of Edison), passed away on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at the CHI Health – Good Samaritan in Kearney, Nebraska.  Jean was born March 29, 1930 in Alma, Nebraska, the third of four children to Theodore "Ted" and Ortha Mae (Hurst) Varwig.  She received her education from Oxford Public Schools, and graduated from Oxford High School with the class of 1948.
On May 6, 1950, she was united in marriage to Joseph P. "Joe" Hays, and to this union three children were born: Joe, Trudy and Janet.  The family made their home north of Edison, where Joe and Jean engaged in farming and enjoyed raising Hereford cattle as part of their cow/calf operation.  In 1989, Jean and Joe moved into Edison, yet continued to farm and ranch.  Besides helping on the farm, Jean also served as the bus driver for the Arapahoe Public School District from 1974 until her retirement from the school in 2000.  In 2006, they fully retired, and later moved to Holdrege in January of 2012.  On September 20, 2012, Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Joe.  While she made her home at Holdrege Memorial Homes, Jean loved being part of the bell choir.
Jean's favorite past-times were bowling, horse riding, and she always had a special place in her heart for all animals.  The highlight of her life was spending time with her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  Jean was a member of the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Oxford.
Besides her parents, and daughter, Trudy Hays in infancy; Jean was preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law:  Joseph M. and Anna Hays; two sisters:  Kathleen Nelson, and Colleen Shafer and her husband, Jerry; one brother, Teddy Varwig; sisters-in-law:  Ann Varwig; Elsie Marie Hays; Katherine Bartruff and her husband, Dale; Bernice Dawson and her husband, Farrell; Lois Dawson and her husband, Lowell; Lucille Walker and her husband, Hiram; and Tess Moor and her two husbands:  Max and Duane; brothers-in-law:  Carrol Millard; James "Jim" Hays; William "Bill" Hays; and Vaughn Dawson.

Jean leaves to celebrate her life; her two children: Joe Hays and his wife, Peggy of Holdrege; and Janet Wilken and her husband, Danny of Smithfield, Nebraska; five grandchildren:  Jason Hays and his wife, Lindsay; Scott Hays and his wife, Natassia; Heath Wilken; Tanya Wilken; Lacy Fritz and her husband, Mike; six great-grandchildren:  Cade, Maddox, and Berkleigh Hays; Olivia Hays; and Sawyer and Fletcher Fritz; sisters-in-law:  Mick Dawson of Elwood, Nebraska; Ruby Martin and her husband, Mark of Kearney; and Joann Hays of Oxford, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives; special friend and caregiver, Jeannie Wilke of Wilcox and many other dear friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 16, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.
A memorial has been established in Jean's honor, and kindly suggested to the family for later 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 arrangements.