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Joyce Callan Obituary
Born on June 12, 1923 in Reynolds, Neb., to Paul and Alta Mae (Simmons) Stark, Joyce Marie Callan, 93, departed this life on June 27, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society in Beatrice, with the kind and devoted caregiving of all the people of Angel's Landing Household and Beatrice Community Hospital Hospice.
She graduated from Reynolds High School and attended Peru State College, where she met her husband, Clair Callan. They were married on Dec. 25, 1942, immediately after which he began his tour of duty in the Pacific as a first lieutenant in the United States Navy. During the war, she lived with her in-laws, Sen. John and Agnes Callan, and she taught kindergarten in the Odell Public Schools. She lived most of her adult life in Odell, Neb., Washington, D.C., and Fairbury, Neb.
It was her great pleasure and honor to entertain family, friends and constituents of Nebraska's First Congressional District in Washington, D.C., from 1965-1966.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her parents-in-law, her husband, the Honorable Clair Callan, her sister and husband Pauline and Lewis Patrick of Fairbury, her brother-in-law and sister-in law Dean and Mary Ann Callan of Boulder, Colo.
She is survived by her son, John P. Callan (Jane) of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, daughter Catherine (Jamie) Renshaw of Odell; grandchildren Brenda (Len) Gionet of Sudbury Ontario, Canada, Greg (Julia) Callan of Burlington, Ontario Canada, Dr. Preston (Nicole) Renshaw of Sioux Fall, S.D., Dr. Amanda (Patrick) McKinney of Beatrice, Drs. Alex and Jenna Renshaw of Columbus, Ohio; 15 great-grandchildren, Simon and Serafina Gionet, Nicolas, Lucy and Felix Callan, Zachary, Jaime, Benjamin and Thomas Renshaw, Meghan, Hannah, Callan and Aidan McKinney, Brinn and Reese Renshaw; and nieces and nephews Sara (James) Volker of Des Moines Iowa, Patricia (Don) South of Hastings, Neb., Dave (Carol) Callan of Boulder, Colo., Scott (Myra) Callan of Prescott, Ariz., and Becky (Bruce) Gamble of Boulder, Colo.
Cremation has taken place. A family graveside service is pending.
Memorials to The Good Samaritan Society and the Odell United Methodist Church.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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