Joan R. Barnard

Joan R. Barnard

Joan R. Barnard, 88 years of age, of Beatrice passed away at the Good Samaritan Center in Beatrice Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, 2016. She was born on Dec. 16, 1927 in Beatrice to Charles and Florence (Heikes) Higgins Sr., and was a 1944 graduate of Beatrice High School. Joan and John F. Barnard were married on Feb. 12, 1950 in Beatrice.

Joan had been a rural school teacher near Beatrice, and then was the Gage County Register of Deeds and Treasurer for 18 years before retiring in 1996. She was a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church and the Ruth Circle; Deed a Day extension Club for over 50 years; and was a former 4-H Leader and member of the Stoddard PTA and was a past president. Joan enjoyed bowling, traveling to bowling tournaments at many different places, and especially loved her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, John Barnard; daughter Linda Totsch and husband Ron of Shawnee, Kan.; two sons, Gail Barnard and wife Diane of Beatrice, and Michael Barnard and wife Lori of Iuka, Miss.; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Jerry Higgins and wife Myrna of Plattsmouth, Ronald Higgins and wife Marilyn of Beatrice, and Charles Higgins of Beatrice; and two sisters, Doris Thorpe and husband Joe of Lincoln, and Marjorie Penner and husband Harvey of Loveland, Colo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Florence (Heikes) Higgins Sr.; brother-in-law Lyle Schmidt; and sisters-in-law Vonnie Higgins and Verneel Higgins.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at the Centenary United Methodist Church in Beatrice with Rev. Cliff Reynolds officiating. Interment will be at the Evergreen Home Cemetery. The body will lie in state Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with the family greeting friends from 6:30-8 p.m., and at the church one hour preceding the service on Saturday. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m. Saturday at the church. A memorial has been established to the church with the funeral home in charge. Sign Joan's online guestbook and view her video tribute after completed at www.ghchapel.com.

These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.