Josephine "Jo" Eleanor (Gompert) McElwee

Josephine “Jo” Eleanor (Gompert) McElwee, 90, died at her home December 15th. A funeral will be at 10 am Thursday, December 20 at WestWay Christian Church, with Pastor Joe Peterson officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery, in Morrill, NE. Visitation will be Wednesday at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel from 4-7 pm.

Memorials can be made to Summit Christian College or WestWay Christian Church. Online condolences can be left at www.dugankramer.com.

Jo was born January 25th, 1928 to John J and Mary Lucetta (Harris) Gompert. She received her early education at Fairview District 34 School, graduated from Liberty High School and attended Doane College. She married Leo J. “Jack” McElwee, June 1, 1950 at Scottsbluff, and they were blessed with 68 years of marriage, 56 years of which were spent in the house built by Jack and Jo and where Jack continues to reside.

Prior to her marriage, Jo worked at the Morrill Bank. She spent many years as a homemaker and bookkeeper for Jack’s plastering business. She worked as a cook, and then as a bookkeeper at Platte Valley Bible College (now Summit Christian College) for many years, and was also a friend, confidante and mentor to students and faculty alike.

Jo was a long time member of the Church at Bryant, (now WestWay Christian church) where she was a Sunday school teacher, served on the meals and hospitality committee and many other ministries, including for a short time, church treasurer.

Jo was an accomplished pianist and she also enjoyed writing, including poetry and skits. She happily put in many hours in the kitchen, cooking, baking and canning and she graciously opened her home to friends and family throughout the years providing fellowship and good food with much wit and repartee.

Jo was a loving, caring, selfless wife and mother, and a treasured friend to many.

She will be lovingly remembered and missed by her husband, Jack, her children and their spouses, John and Paula McElwee, Walt and Mary Cline, Les and Shannon Kampbell and Dale and Shelley Harvey; Eleven grandchildren: Amanda McElwee and husband Matt, Benjamin Cline and wife Jamie, Katie Eder and husband David, Titus Cline and wife Jaimee, Joseph Cline and fiancée Leslie Hopton, Bryan Kampbell and wife Aimee, Erin Kampbell, Lindsay Eisenmenger and husband Scott, Blaine Harvey and wife Krysta, Lacey Harvey and friend Clint Adamson, and Dylan Harvey, plus 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Donald Gompert.