JoAnn M. Koepke

NORFOLK – Celebration of life service for JoAnn Marcille Koepke, 77, of Norfolk, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 5, 2025 at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Rev. Gordon Braun will be officiating the service. The service will be live streamed on the Stonacek Funeral Chapel Website at: https://www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/joann-koepke/#!/PhotosVideos. Private family burial will be held at the Zion East Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hoskins. Memorials preferred to House The Homeless, PO Box 2312, Austin TX 78768-2312 or to Child Fund International, PO Box 1911, Merrifield VA 22116-1911. JoAnn passed away on Monday, November 24, 2025 at her residence in Norfolk. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. A gifted musician, she played piano with her left hand when right hand unable. While attending Pierce High School, her construction of an EKG machine from a Karo syrup can won her a trip to the National Science Fair in Dallas, Texas. She earned her Masters Degree while living in Texas, then became homeless for a while. Helped by Austin House The Homeless, she served for many years on their Board of Directors, even after moving back to Nebraska in 2012. An accomplished fundraiser, she raised the money to educate, from elementary school through college degree, two young women in Uganda through Child Fund International. JoAnn established a mother-daughter relationship with Jo Masiko and Rebecca Kayaga, being in frequent digital and telephone contact with them in Uganda. Her seizure alert kitty was her best friend. She loved to paint and garden. JoAnn made lemonade out of many lemon trials and did more good for God’s downtrodden in her life than all nine of her siblings put together. Preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Dorthy Koepke, and brother Gary. Survived by sisters Judy Koepke, Janis (Jon) Bible, Lana (Phil) Johnson, Lynne Tittel; brothers Galen (Doris Koepke), Gene (Michelle) Koepke, Lonnie (Suellen) Koepke, Jeff (Sharon) Koepke; sister-in-law Terry Koepke; many nieces and nephews; and many friends worldwide. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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JoAnn M. Koepke

December 28, 1947 - November 24, 2025