Joan E Carr

Funeral services for Joan E. Carr will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Wilcox, Nebraska with Pastor Donald L. Hunzeker officiating. Burial will follow at the Wilcox Cemetery, Wilcox, Nebraska.

Joan Edna Carr, 79 years of age, of Minden, Nebraska, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2017 at the Kearney County Health Systems – Long Term Care in Minden. Joan was born July 21, 1937, in rural Kearney County, Nebraska, near Wilcox, the fourth of seven siblings to John and Hilda (O'Brien) Straatmann. At the young age of 4, Joan and her siblings were removed from the family home and placed in the Children's Home in Fremont, Nebraska and later in the Whitehall Children's Home in Lincoln, Nebraska. She lived in Lincoln until 1953, when she was placed in foster care in Aurora, Nebraska, where she completed her junior and senior years of high school, graduating with the class of 1955.

On April 20, 1956, she was united in marriage to Merlyn "John" Carr in Aurora. The couple were blessed with 3 children: John D., Tammie Jo, and Gregory Alan. Due to John's construction work, they lived in several communities before moving to Wilcox, where they raised their family. In 1982, they moved to Russell, Kansas, where Joan made her home until moving to Minden in 2004 to be closer to her family.

Joan enjoyed sewing, cooking, gardening, and crafts of all kinds. She had a passion for dolls and Angels and collected many thru the years. Her love for toys lead her to become a volunteer for Santa's Helpers in Russell, for many years. She had a passion for fixing broken toys and making them new again. After moving to Minden, she was introduced to The Closet, where she volunteered until declining health.

Joan was spunky and full of life even thru her declining health. She had a heart of gold. It was later in life that she found a sister that was adopted shortly after being taken from the home. In the last three years, she has connected with three nieces and a great niece; a bond she had always dreamed of. She was a devoted mother and grandmother and enjoyed spending time with them every chance she had.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Merlyn in 1990; her parents; two sisters: Merna Straatmann and Beverly Morris; brothers-in-law: Glenn Carr and Wayne Carr; and sisters-in-law, Sharon Cardenas and Irene Carr.

Joan leaves to celebrate her life; her children: Tammie Binderup and her husband, Jim of Minden, John D. Carr of Snyder, Nebraska and Gregory Carr and his wife, Martha of Minden; eight grandchildren: Dustin Richmond and his wife, Millie, Caternia Hatfield and her fiancé, Cris Atwater, Travis Binderup and his wife, Stephanie, Wyatt Binderup and his wife, Alyssa, and Matthew, Derek, Brooke and Faith Carr; nine great-grandchildren: Christian, Kylie, twins: Austin and Braden and Hailey Richmond, Kayden Hatfield, Jade Clement and his wife, Amber and Ty Clement and Emerson Binderup; brother: Lloyd Straatmann of Hastings, Nebraska; sister: Alyce Suhr of Canyon City, Colorado; sisters-in-law, Rosie Stabenow and her husband, Butch of Alma, Nebraska, Bonnie Carr of Lincoln, Nebraska and Donna Hart of Anza, California; brother-in-law, Martin Cardenes of Houston, Texas; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Wilcox.

A memorial has been established in Joan's honor and will be designated at a later date.

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

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Wilcox is in charge of the arrangements.