Jolene Van Patter

Graveside services for Jolene Van Patter age 86 Glendale, Arizona will take place Saturday, September 16, 2023, 10:00 am at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Neligh, Nebraska. A reception to follow immediately at Pioneer Homes, 500 P Street, Neligh, Nebraska. Jolene Kay Van Patter (nee Holm) passed away peacefully Thursday, July 6 2023 in Glendale, Arizona after a short illness. She was 86 years old.

     Jolene was born June 12, 1937 in Royal, Nebraska on the family farm to Lucretia Mae Cole and Elmer Phillip Holm. The family moved to Butte, Nebraska in 1952, where she graduated from Butte High School in 1955 and attended Wayne State Teachers College. After graduating from Wayne State Teachers College she taught school in Antelope County.

     Jolene married Duane Reuben Van Patter on May 31, 1959. From this union were born three sons: Philip Wayne, Marvin Duane and Michael Dale. Alongside her husband she farmed 320 acres in Neligh, Nebraska and worked at the Neligh Nursing home before eventually moving to Clay Center, Nebraska in 1976.

     While living in Clay Center, Jolene worked various jobs. She was employed by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Edgar Nursing home, the Clay Center Senior Center and a variety of other jobs. But her number one priority was taking care of her family. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star organization as well as PEO since June 1955. She enjoyed writing poetry, crocheting, word search puzzles and adult coloring books. In 2013, Jolene and Duane moved to Glendale, Arizona to be closer to their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

     Jolene is survived by her sons, Philip (Laurie) Van Patter of Hastings, Nebraska; Marvin Van Patter of Phoenix, Arizona; Michael (Lynn) Van Patter of Phoenix, Arizona; grandchildren Cyndie Renae (Benjamin) Stepp of Litchfield Park, Arizona; Skylar Shaye Van Patter of Tucson, Arizona; Michael Colt (Mackenzie) Van Patter of Rawlins, Wyoming along with great grandsons Hudson Carter and Ryker Kade Stepp of Litchfield Park, Arizona. Jolene is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

     Preceding her in death were husband Duane Reuben Van Patter, her parents Lucretia Mae and Elmer Phillip Holm, a brother Elmer Neville Holm, twin sister Joyce Kay Sedlacek (nee Holm) and granddaughter Brandie Colleen Curtis Van Patter.