Joan Marae (Hahn) Dudden
Joan Marae (Hahn) Dudden 81, of Venango, Nebraska departed earth life on Saturday Dec. 11, 2021 at the Ivy Lane Assisted Living Group Home in Surprise, Arizona. She has now found peace after suffering an almost 8-year battle with Parkinsons and Dementia.
A Celebration of Life was held on Jan. 16, 2022, at Joan’s winter home in Sun City, Arizona and in Venango in the Summer of 2022.
Joan was born March 20, 1940 along with her identical twin Jean Marie (Hahn) Lovrinic at their farm home near Hamlet, to Pauline (Gautschi) and Jessie (Jack) Hahn, attended by their aunt Doris (Hahn)Brady an RN practicing at Imperial.
Joan attended elementary school at Hamlet in a two-room school, high school at Wauneta, Bachelor of Education Degree in English and Speech University of Nebraska, Lincoln and Master of Education Degree in Guidance Counseling University of Colorado.
Joan and Dick met at College in Lincoln and married on Aug. 24, 1958. Son, Brent was born on June 27, 1960. During their 63 years together they lived in Lincoln, Venango, Boulder, Colorado, Denver, Colorado, Ogallala and in 2002 retired to Venango.
Joan started her teaching career as an English teacher at South High School in Denver, Colorado, and was immediately promoted to Assistant Dean of Women, she remained for 5 years, moving to Ogallala in 1968 and became Guidance Counselor for Paxton and Grant for 10 years. She retired from education and became a business woman and office manager in Ogallala, School Board member and active member of her Ogallala community. After retirement Joan enjoyed the Summers in Venango and Winters in Sun City, Arizona.
Joan was an avid cook, baker, gardener, traveler and charity worker for her communities. She especially enjoyed beautifying her communities with flowers.
Survivors include her husband, Dick; son, Brent Dudden and wife Sandra of Tempe, Arizona; twin Sister, Jean Lovrinic and husband Bill; sister Valerie of Westminster, Colorado; brother-in-law Perry Dudden and wife Lasca; Todd Dudden and wife Tina of Grant; two grandchildren, Taj Dudden of Tempe, Arizona and Tara Campbell and husband Steve; great grandson, Nolan of Surprise, Arizona; niece Lisa Jill Keefer and husband Steve, Aurora, Colorado; nephew, John Grant and wife Mona of Westminster, Colorado; adopted daughter, Ana Kohlmann of Lucerne, Switzerland; adopted son, Michael Bowman of Pasadena, California; goddaughter, Anne Spinks of Houston, Texas; godson, Gregory Richard Toft of Durham, North Carolina.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Pauline Hahn; parents-in-law, Garrett and Martha Jane Dudden; brother-in-law John Grant
Joan was cremated. Her remains will be partially spread on her parents graves at Hamlet and interred in the Dudden family site in Venango during the summer of 2022.
Memorials are suggested to the Kenfield Petrified Wood Gallery, 418 E. 1st St. Ogallala, NE 69153, or your favorite charity.