Juanita R Hernandez

Minatare – Juanita R. Hernandez, 74, of Minatare, died Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at her home surrounded by her family. Her funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Scottsbluff with Father Jonathan Sorensen officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Visitation will be from 1-7 PM on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel with a Vigil service at 7 PM. Memorials may be directed to Platte Valley Bank in care of the family. Online condolences may be left at www.dugankramer.com

Juanita was born May 13, 1940 at San Antonio, Texas to Catarino and Susana (Rossel) Gonzalez. The family moved to Lyman, Nebraska when she was a young child. Juanita was united in marriage to James Hernandez on March 29, 1969 at Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The couple made their home and raised their children in Minatare. Juanita was a volunteer at the Minatare Head Start as a “Grandma” and was a former member of the Catholic Church in Minatare.

Juanita took great pride and joy in caring for her family – providing delicious homemade food, spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and keeping her home, garden, and yard looking nice. She was always on the go! She put the needs of others first and was the kindest person you would ever meet. She included her extended family members into her tight circle of love. She loved her car. She was a strong fighter of her illness up to the end.

Juanita is survived by her husband James of Minatare; son Jesse Hernandez (Kelli Garcia) of Gering; daughters and sons-in-law JoAnne and Michael Garcia of Gering and Jennifer and Ron Hrasky of Minatare; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters Lupe Villanueva of Scottsbluff and Margaret Vasquez of San Antonio, TX; brothers and sisters-in-law Isidro and Rosa Gonzalez of Scottsbluff and Emeterio and Mary Gonzalez of Minatare; and several nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, sister Angela Rodriquez, brothers Catarino Gonzales, Jr. and Tim Gonzalez, and nephews Emeterio Gonzalez, Jr. and Roy Hernandez.