Annette "Ann" Jo Thomas

In Loving Memory of Annette Jo “Ann” Thomas Today we say goodbye to Ann, releasing her into peace while holding tightly to the love, meticulous care and deep devotion she gave to so many. Ann was born Nov. 20, 1954, the second of three sisters. She graduated from Kearney High School and Kearney State College and married her college sweetheart, Dennis, in 1976. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family and showing up for one another. At her core, Ann was a wife, a mother and a maker, and a meticulous one at that. She loved bringing beauty and order into the world with her hands, whether through sewing, quilting, scrapbooking or carefully archiving memories. Her attention to detail gave meaning to the ordinary. She found deep satisfaction in cleaning and organizing simply because it felt good when things were cared for. Creating with her hands was both her comfort and her joy. Ann carried both softness and steel within her — nurturing at heart yet stronger than most — meeting life’s challenges with grace, courage and determination. She loved being a mom. Ann had two sons, Marc and Collin, and they were her world. Her love for them was steady and enduring, expressed in countless quiet acts of support and presence. She was also tougher than nails, a true steel magnolia, or maybe a sunflower. Ann overcame ovarian cancer and lived as a survivor for many years, never letting it slow her down or define her. Her dedication to family and friends was unwavering. Ann showed up for the big moments and the small ones because she wanted her love to feel dependable. She delighted in her grandchildren, Charlie, Joey and Vivian, and never missed a soccer game or dance performance if she could help it. A proud Cornhusker fan, she especially loved watching her grandkids in sports. She lit up around them, happily playing on the floor, jumping into rounds of Uno or Monopoly, or simply helping however was needed: chauffeuring, babysitting for an hour or two, or stepping in when life got busy. Her presence was practical, warm and constant. Growing up, Ann’s faith was central to her life, and it remained a guiding force through life’s ups and downs. She often shared stories of her childhood: Sunday lunches after church with fried chicken or roast; learning craftiness and artistry from her mother; visiting her grandmother’s house with its big flower garden; and playing card games with her dad and family, quite competitively. She remembered camping vacations in tents and sleeping bags, a yellow bike and later a yellow VW Beetle, and even painting her bedroom yellow. Though she once wished she were not so tall, she eventually came to embrace it. Yellow was her favorite color growing up. Later she loved coral and pink. She was deeply shaped by her parents’ devotion to family and by her own mother’s ingenuity, which Ann carried forward in her own life. She remained close with her sisters, becoming even better friends as the years went on. Ann cherished simple comforts: grilled cheese and tomato soup, red Twizzlers, chocolate of any kind, hymns and Christmas carols, and romantic comedies she could watch again and again. “Downton Abbey” was one of her favorites; she admired Mary’s strength. She preferred lunch to dinner, loathed deciding what to cook and found joy in travel, believing it expanded her world. Ann and her family shared many adventures together, traveling across the United States and Europe, marveling at both the Rocky Mountains and the Eiffel Tower. After Dennis passed in 2020, Ann carried his memory forward while also creating new experiences with her family, including trips to the Grand Canyon, Kauai, Florida and Colorado — continuing to build memories rooted in togetherness. When asked about her proudest achievement, Ann’s answer was simple: her family. She often said she could not have asked for a better one. And we could not have asked for a better mother, grandmother, sister or friend. Ann leaves behind a legacy of quiet strength, faith, devotion and care. She taught us that love looks like consistency, that beauty lives in careful details and that showing up matters. Her life was a testament to steady presence and deep pride in the people she loved. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dennis; her father, Ellis, a dedicated World War II veteran; and her mother, Bertha, who taught her to sew and to embrace making things with love. She is survived by her sons, Marc (Kate) and Collin (Stephanie), and their families; her two sisters, Betty Scheetz and Janelle (Jack) Beatty and family; and a legacy of hand-stitched memories that will never fade. Ann will be deeply missed and forever remembered. Memorial contributions in Ann’s name may be made to Faith United Methodist Church, 1623 Central Avenue, Kearney NE 68847

Annette "Ann" Jo Thomas

November 20, 1954 - January 26, 2026