Joan Valerie Muir

Born Valerie Joan Vance on June 18, 1930 to Maxine (Travis) and Johnny Vance of Greeley, Colorado, Joan rearranged her name to Joan V. Vance at a young age and it stayed for the rest of her life. The family moved to Rawlins, Wyoming where Joan grew up and resided until she was married. Joan loved talking about Rawlins, and wonderful family times camping, fishing and horseback riding--and even told stories of rattle snake hunting. Joan spent time at her mother’s beauty salon and at one time thought she would be a hair dresser. Joan attended Rawlins High School and played saxophone in the marching band. Later, she transferred to St. Scholastica Academy, a Catholic High School for girls in Springfield, Colorado. St. Scholastica was run by the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago; and though not Catholic when she entered the academy, she was when she graduated and remained a woman of deep Faith throughout her life. Joan attended Adams State College in Colorado with a major in Nursing. Joan met Bob Muir on a blind date in 1948. Bob was from Omaha, Nebraska, working summers for the Union Pacific Railroad in Rawlins. They were married May 19, 1951 and immediately moved to Baltimore, Maryland because Bob had been drafted into the Army during the Korean War. When Bob was sent overseas, Joan returned to Rawlins and became a bookkeeper at the local bank. After Bob’s discharge the couple settled in Omaha where Joan continued working as a bookkeeper at Northside Bank until their first child was born in 1956. Joan and Bob had two daughters, Sherry born in 1956 and Vicky born in 1957. Joan became a Homemaker and so much more. She joined the Mount View Elementary School Mother’s Chorus when the girls were in grade school and continued singing in choirs as a 2nd Alto until a few months before her death, singing with St. Patrick’s Church choir in Elkhorn for over 30 years. Joan was the first woman to obtain a motorcycle driver’s license in Omaha. She was a member of the Rangers Motorcycle Club of Omaha and enjoyed riding, attending events and showing bikes with Bob and the girls at Midwest Auto Shows. She was Bob’s right hand in building their two homes. She loved sewing, quilting and making photo albums. At St. Patrick’s Church in Elkhorn, in addition to choir, Joan was a longtime member of the Women’s Club, volunteered on the weekly bulletin, helped with the church directory, was on the funeral committee and prayer chain, and enjoyed attending bible study. Her grandchildren and great granddaughter gave her much joy. Sherry married Bob Hellmuth in 1985, and Joan’s first granddaughter Lauren Margaret was born in 1987. In 1995, her second granddaughter Lindsey Anna was born. Then in 2013 Lauren married Adam Orton and in 2017, Lauren gave birth to Joan’s namesake, a great granddaughter named Olivia Joan Orton. Joan’s greatest love was for the Lord, for her husband, family and friends. May she rest forever in God’s Peace. Joan V. Muir, 88, of Bennington, NE, died 1/30/19. Survived by loving husband of 67 years Bob of Bennington, daughters Sherry & husband Bob Hellmuth of Dekalb, IL, Vicky Muir of Bennington, granddaughters Lauren & husband Adam Orton, and Lindsey Hellmuth, great granddaughter Olivia Joan Orton. Funeral Mass 10:30 AM Wednesday (2/6) at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Elkhorn. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha. Visitation from 4:30 to 7 PM Tuesday at the funeral home in Elkhorn with a Wake service at 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the St. Patrick’s School Tuition Fund or the charity of your choice.

Joan Valerie Muir

June 18, 1930 - January 30, 2019