E. "Joan" Brenneman

Esther Joan (Roberts) Brenneman was born to Ernest E. and Mildred L. (Miller) Roberts on Oct. 20, 1930 on a farm near Bentley, Kansas. Before school age, she moved with her mother and brothers and sister to Halstead. She attended all 13 years of school in Halstead, graduating in 1948 from Halstead High School. After dating Rex Brenneman for over two years, the two of them were married on May 15, 1948.

They remained living in Halstead for another year before traveling around the state with the Geiger Bridge Construction Company. Rex worked with the bridge crew during this time and Joan would find waitress work in the various areas.

Then in the summer of 1952 they moved to Wichita to work for the O.A. Sutton Vornado Fan Company. Joan worked there for five years, taking short leaves to have two of their children and then returning back to work. After the Sutton plants closed, Joan continued to work for Montgomery Ward. Next the Amortibanc and it was during this employment that their third child was born in 1962.

Then in 1967 Joan started employment with the Standard Precision Company, which was later bought by NCR. Joan stayed employed with them for 24.5 years, retiring in 1991. After retirement, she and Rex bought a motor home and traveled to South Texas for the winters. After a couple of years of driving down in the motor home, they sold it and bought a permanent place in the Rio Valley Estates RV Park and continued to go down each winter in the van.

Joan got involved with the winter Texans Club and was elected to serve as their treasurer for a three-year term. This was a good way for them to learn to know more people. And during these winter visits were able to make friends with people from all over the U.S.A and Canada.

Joan always found employment around food, cooking it or eating it. She was a good cook and could always find a bunch to cook for. She collected recipes and was always trying something new. And always said she could get ready to go out to eat real fast.

Joan was preceded in death by: both parents, Ermest E. Roberts and Mildred L. (Roberts) Abston; her husband Rex D. Brenneman; two sisters: Genevieve (Roberts) Olin and Wilma J. (Abston) Tousignant; two brothers: Tom Roberts and Maurice Roberts.

Joan is survived by one sister: Tressa Suffield; two brothers: Ralph Abston and Larry Abston. She had three children: Rhonda K. Voth, Michael K. Brenneman and Sherrie Brenneman. She had four grandchildren: Rex Voth, Kayla Jo Voth, Hayden Brenneman-Francis and Olivia Brenneman-Francis.

Joan passed on April 13 2020 while living at The Schowalter Villa in Hesston, Kansas with her beloved companion, Gene Miller.

Private services to follow at a later date.

Suggested memorials: The Halstead Historical Society.