JoAnn (Taylor) Rohrs

   JoAnn Taylor Rohrs passed away peacefully Sunday, March 10, 2024, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Nebraska City, Nebraska.

   JoAnn was born on a farm near Peru, Nebraska on October 31, 1933.  She was the daughter of Opal Pearl (Mills) and Roy Ralph Taylor.  Two brothers, Eugene Taylor and Raymond Taylor were to be blessings in her life.

   JoAnn attended Antioch Grade School, Jr. High and from 7th to 12th grades at Auburn High School, graduating with the class of 1951.   During high school she was noted as the only strawberry blonde in her class and was a loyal rooter at all sports events.  During her junior and senior years she worked at the Green Lantern Soda Fountain and the State Theater.

   Upon graduation she began work at the Farmers Coop as a bookkeeper.  On September 22, 1951 she married Kenneth E. Coatney and moved to Anchorage Alaska where Ken was in the U.S. Airforce.  They also spent time in Sumpter, S.C. and Clovis, N.M.  Returning to Auburn in 1953 she was employed as a switchboard operator at the Lincoln Telephone Company.  On January 3, 1955 their daughter Valerie Jo was born.  In May of 1955 the couple divorced but JoAnn continued her employment with LT&T.

   On February 2, 1957 she married Donald Dale Rohrs at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Auburn.   Don was the son of Lucille Behrends and Rudolph Rohrs.  Two sons, Kirby Ray Rohrs and Ross Alan Rohrs were born to this union.  Both boys shared their father’s passion for hunting and fishing.

   Don was a heavy equipment operator for Nelson Quarries.  In August of 1968, Don was taken ill with cancer and died November 19, 1968.

   JoAnn began working at Carson National Bank the summer of 1969 and continued working there until January of 1975.  It was then she began her first term as the Nemaha County Clerk.  Serving in that position until she retired.  JoAnn was the first female elected to this office.  In 1984, she received the “Outstanding County Official Award” presented by the Nebraska association of County Officials, an award given for outstanding leadership in the Association, community, and church.

   Many organizations benefited from her leadership abilities.  On the state level she served on the NACO Board, Selective Service Board, and was treasurer of the Women of he ELCA.  In her community she belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary and the Past Presidents of the ALA, Eagles Auxiliary 3767, Auburn Chamber of Commerce and Ambassadors.  For many years she organized the local Red Cross Blood Drives.

   Most of all she loved her church, St. Paul Lutheran.  She taught Sunday School for many years, served on the church board and was a member of the Dorthea Woods Circle where she enjoyed helping make quilts for various missions.  She served her church and community well.  

   In the early fall of 2023, JoAnn started showing signs of dementia that would have her family make the decision to move her to an assisted living facility.  On March 7th she was taken ill and moved to St. Mary’s Hospital where she peacefully passed away on March 10, 2024.   

   Those left to mourn her passing are her daughter Valerie (Leroy) Able of Auburn and son Kirby (Tina) Rohrs of Lincoln; sisters-in-law LoRayne Taylor of Julesburg, CO, June Taylor of Auburn; grandchildren Cara (Joe) Hull of Burke, SD, Joshua (Janie) Able of Gretna, Zachary (Jill) Able of Lincoln, Ann (Ryan) Beccard of Nebraska City, Adam and Brandon Rohrs of St. Paul, MN, and Brittany Buskirk (Cody Sherman) of Waverly; great grandchildren Isaac, Maya, Michaela, and Hannah Hull; Morgan Able, Jaelyn and Jocelyn Able, Zachary and Aria Able. Hayden, Nolan, Damian, Brendan, and Lauren Beccard, Ellie and Keaten Buskirk, and Hadley Sherman; many nieces, nephews, and friends.  Those loved ones proceeding her in death: Roy and Opal Taylor (parents), Donald Rohrs (husband), Ross Alan Rohrs (son), Eugene Taylor (brother), Raymond Taylor (brother), infant grandson Alan Rohrs.

   A funeral service will be held Thursday, March 14, 10:30 a.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Auburn.  Burial will follow in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery.  Visitation will be at the funeral home Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

    Memorials are suggested to family choice.