Joanne L. (Waller) Hardeman

A Memorial Service for Joanne L. (Waller) Hardeman will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Westmark Evangelical Free Church in rural Loomis, Nebraska, with Pastor Noah Tyler and Pastor Murray Jones.  Inurnment will follow at the Moses Hill Cemetery in rural Phelps County, Nebraska.

The memorial service will be live streamed via the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Homes Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Nelson-Bauer-Funeral-Homes-111601113801622

Joanne Lucille (Waller) Hardeman was born the third child to Fred and Helen (Burgeson) Waller on March 23, 1946, and lived north of Loomis, until 1954 when the family moved to a farm north of Holdrege.  She passed away on March 9, 2022, from cancer in Atlanta, Georgia.

She attended school at Westmark #46 and #72, which were both one room country schools.  She continued her grade school education at R-6 Country School North of Holdrege. She graduated from Holdrege High School in 1964 and continued her education at Hastings College, graduating in 1968, with High Distinction in Math and English.

After graduation, she moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to work as a technical editor for Control Data Corp., and later Midwest Systems.  While there, she met and married Colin Hardeman at the Westmark Evangelical Free Church in 1972.  They lived in many interesting places including Miami, Florida; Santa Clara, California; Montreal and Toronto, Canada; San Jose, California; and in 1979, they moved to Marietta, Georgia.  Throughout her 16 years of marriage, Joanne worked for a variety of electronic companies as a Technical Editor, Training Developer, and PC Technical Support Engineer.

In 1982, Joanne started working for Hewlett-Packard as a Senior Response Center Engineer, providing phone support for PC Hardware and software.

Joanne was a loyal fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team and Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Team.  She enjoyed many visits to see family and friends, so important to her in Nebraska.

Joanne traveled to many places in the world including:  Australia, Italy, Spain, and Africa, for photo safaris.  Her trips to Sweden sparked her interest in family genealogy.  With limited information, she was able to find the community where her grandfather, John Waller and his parents lived, prior to immigration to the U.S.  She also was able to find the location where her maternal grandparents lived.  Joanne wrote the Waller Family History book, which she started in 1998 and has continued updating until the present time.

In addition to genealogy and travel, she loved gardening and as a talented seamstress, made many quilts.  She was an excellent cook and enjoyed incorporating antiques into her decor.

Upon her retirement, Joanne was asked to join the Atlanta Cotton States Cat Club because of her devotion to cats. This was such a passion for Joanne that she became the Show Manager for one of the largest and most prestigious Cat Shows in the World.  For 11 years she produced this event, which hosted over 300 pedigree and household pets from many countries. She also enjoyed showing her own five Exotic cats and achieved both Regional and National Wins. Joanne's fur babies were adopted by members of her Cotton States Family, where they will be loved and cherished.

Joanne was dedicated and confirmed at Westmark Evangelical Free Church, where she grew-up.  She attended the Northbrook Methodist Church in Georgia along with her cousin, Christine and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Fred and Helen (Burgeson) Waller; and one brother, Lloyd Waller of Holdrege.

Survivors include two brothers: Rodney Waller of Holdrege; and Floyd (Pat) Waller of rural Elm Creek, Nebraska; four nephews: Kenny Waller; and Tim Waller, both of Holdrege; Cody (Megan) Waller of Kearney, Nebraska; and David (Toni) Waller of Colville, Washington;  great nieces and nephews: Ryan Waller; Reed (Taylor) Waller; Donny Waller; and James Waller, all of Holdrege; and Jackson, Brooklyn, Sophia, and Chloe Waller of Kearney; other family members in Atlanta include: Christine Waller Jones, and husband, Ron, and their four children:  Sarah, Rebecca, Michael, and Matthew and their families.  Christine Jones was her cousin and the dear 'sister she never had'.

A life well lived would describe Joanne's life, by her family and friends in Georgia and Nebraska.  There will be no visitation, viewing, or memorial book signing the evening prior to the service.

A memorial has been 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.