Jean Zebert

A memorial service for Jeanne L. "Jean" Zebert will be held on Monday, November 13, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Daren Popple officiating.  Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend.

Jeanne "Jean" Lourie (Johnson) Zebert of Holdrege, Nebraska passed away unexpectedly on Sunday October 1, 2023 at the age of 63. She was officially pronounced deceased at Phelps Memorial Health Center at 5:06 Sunday Morning, though after learning her post mortem diagnosis; it is believed she was gone before being transported and was in the company of her son and other medical personnel who were on scene.

Jeanne was born, youngest of three total siblings, in Omaha, Nebraska on October 20, 1959 to D. Lourie (Stay) Johnson and Charles "Chuck" E. Johnson. Throughout her early life, she moved around with her family and attended school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Holdrege, Nebraska, and graduated from Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska in 1977. She didn't feel college was the best option for her so she worked various jobs in and around Omaha and around Nebraska, until she met her future husband. They ran a trucking business together for several years, driving cross country delivering various items and goods racking up hundreds of thousands of miles. She often talked about knowing how to drive a stick shift from a simple truck/car to an 18 speed semi one of which was a 5 and 3 double over and of course everything in between. She'd say, "If you can explain the shifting pattern for a 5 and 3 double then you can tell me whether or not I can drive a manual."

She had her one and only son in April 1993 and after 9 months, was faced with the choice of leaving with her son, or putting up with her current living situation and risking her life. Jeanne decided to leave and sought the help of her mother while she got back on her feet.  After divorcing in Late 1994, she spent the rest of her life caring and raising her son as a single parent either relying on daycare or her mother to watch her son while she worked diligently to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and bills paid. Jeanne later talked about her experiences, her reasons for her leaving, and being a survivor of domestic violence and abuse and often used her previous experiences to help others identify red flags and supported them getting away from their own situations safely. In some cases, she'd lend a couch or air mattress for those needing a place to stay.

Jeanne; my mother, was one of a kind. A truly strong, wise, compassionate, independent and inspirational person who always did her dead level best to achieve what she set her mind to. She was a person of common sense, courtesy, and respect but she also had one heck of an attitude and was immensely stubborn, a real spitfire of a human being. She loved all kinds of music but mainly jammed out to Classic Rock. Jeanne also loved vintage cars, antique/garage sale shopping, cooking and baking, puzzles and counted cross stitch, she had a beautiful singing voice, and she loved being a mother in general. This even extended to being a band mom while her son was in school where she'd basically adopted her band kids and treat them as her own. Her flair for adopting people extended well beyond her band kids and her chosen family is tremendous!

Jeanne is survived by; her son, Adam Johnson (Zebert); a brother, James Johnson; and sister, Janis Johnson; numerous nieces and nephews; countless friends; and many others she considered family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, D. Lourie (Stay) Johnson in 2011 and Charles "Chuck" E. Johnson in 2015.

There is no visitation or memorial book signing. The family has honored her wish for cremation.

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 the arrangements.