Joyce Ann Bodtke

Joyce (Versaw) Bodtke, born in Lincoln, NE and lived in Shelby, NE until she went to be with her Savior Jesus on June 4th, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Osceola, NE at the age of 75.

Due to current indoor COVID-19 restrictions, the service will be limited to immediate family only: including Joyce’s husband, siblings, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. However, there will be an option to visit Facebook (Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery) on Monday, June 8, 2020 at 2:00pm to watch the service from your devices at home. At the burial site there are no restrictions.

Joyce was an active child and the eldest of seven. She grew up playing sports: she especially loved basketball, softball, bowling and was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan. After high school graduation, from Lincoln Southeast High School, she enlisted in the United States Marine Corp and was among the first women Marines. She would joke that they all wore the same color lipstick because it was issued to them! While in the Marines, she made lasting friendships and also met her future husband, Roger. The two were married October 4th, 1966. She would have loved to stay a Marine, but once she was expecting her first child she was honorably discharged and began the next phase of her life as a wife and mother.

Joyce and Roger became parents to four children and Joyce was an amazing mother. She was devoted to her children and attended every school function from music recitals to honor society inductions, but most of all she loved the sports; her children could also count on Mom being in the bleachers cheering them on, if not coaching them. She was a World Championship Buffalo Chip Thrower for 3-4 years in a row during their time spent in Chadron, NE. Joyce also worked at the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Osceola, NE for 18 years before her M.S. got the better of her. When she had an empty nest, she and her sisters took numerous trips for bowling tournaments around the country, fixing flat tires in at least six states, while visiting friends and family along the way. She was there for her kids when each new grandbaby was born and when heartbreak hit when two of her grandchildren died as babies. Friends and family could depend on Joyce for quiet support during both the good and bad times.

As multiple sclerosis took over her body, she lost the ability to do the things she loved, but she maintained her dignity, grace—and most importantly—her sense of humor. Her quick wit and dry humor made for many happy memories. She will be greatly missed by those who knew her well, but she is with our Lord, free from the pain and awaiting the time when we will join her in heaven.

She leaves behind her husband of 53 years, Roger Bodtke of Shelby, NE; her children Leanne (Chuck) McCance of Chadron, NE; Tammy (John) Place of Edmond, OK; Jody (Mike) Reed of Reno, NV; and Kevin (Josie) Bodtke of Wichita, KS, along with 13 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and her siblings; Mike Versaw, Marty (Mary) Versaw, Luanne Versaw, Luetta Versaw and Jenna (Bill) Kempkes, all of Lincoln. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Mildred Versaw, her sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Jerry Althouse, and two grandchildren, Andrew and Lana Place.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.