Joellen Benecke

Holy crap, what a woman! JoEllen “Gramma JoJo” began her amazing life on May 3, 1947 in Oakland, NE and peacefully moved on June 9, 2023 at her home in Omaha, NE. JoEllen was the oldest of seven children in a farming family that initially lived near Macy, NE during her childhood. Her family moved to Decatur after fourth grade.

She loved to run up and down the lane in front of their home. She would chase their chickens, play with their dog Rex, and help her mom care for the younger siblings. She felt very loved at her home and remembered just loving her house so much. She admired how hard her mother worked at home to handle cloth diapers, taking kids to the outhouse, and only having one source of running water in the house. As a teenager, she worked for her dad walking the soybeans. She enjoyed going to Dairy Queen with her friends after football games.

She attended Assumption Academy for her last two years of high school. She worked hard there and graduated third in her class. She was voted "Assumption Academy Girl"; the teachers and students voted, and it was for all around personality, grades and a good example. Some kids back in Decatur teased her by saying she earned the "Virgin of the Year Award."

In college she started out majoring in Home Economics, but her sewing was so bad that she decided to consider other options. She settled on becoming a Medical Technologist after she saw a film about it. She got a job as a waitress at King's restaurant near College of Saint Mary. The house mother would let her in after her evening shifts. She only worked evenings on Sundays and Mondays so that she could go on dates on Fridays and Saturdays.

She met George Benecke, Jr. while working at Immanuel Hospital. They dated for three years and when she flippantly suggested they get married, he said to get the calendar out and pick a weekend to do it. They were married at Holy Family in Decatur and went to the Green Lantern afterwards. Their good friends, the Belfiore’s, drove them back to Omaha for another reception.

JoEllen inspired many with her love, wit, strength, and generosity. She loved to laugh, and sometimes it was uncontrollable. British comedy was her favorite, but she could find humor in many things (until the very end). JoEllen loved being outside in her garden and spending time with her grandchildren. She kept great and long-lasting relationships with many friends. If you did something silly, she’d ask “what’s wrong with you!?” She cared deeply about her convictions. It was possible to get her fired up and she would let you have it when her normally kind eyes turned intense. But she was always quick to forgive and easy to love. Those that were lucky enough to be close to JoEllen understand the meaning of unconditional love.

Proverbs 31:25: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

She is preceded in death by parents Maurice (Mick) and Mary Jo Connealy, husband George Benecke, Jr. and sister Elizabeth (Connealy) McKay. She is survived by well-raised and extremely lucky children Pamela Greenstone (Jen) of Austin, TX, Kate Clark (David) of Omaha, NE, George Benecke III (Audrey) of Summit County, CO, Kyle Benecke (Carolyn) of Omaha, NE, grandchildren Leah Kessler, Dexter Clark, Miranda Clark, Bella Benecke and Juniper Benecke. Her amazing and generous life will be remembered also by her brothers, sisters, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 7pm on Monday, June 12th at John A. Gentleman Mortuaries 72nd Street Chapel.  A Mass of Resurrection will be at 11:30am on Tuesday, June 13th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (2207 Wirt Street, Omaha, NE) with Interment at Forest Lawn, followed by a luncheon at Coram Deo Church (8787 Pacific Street, Omaha, NE) from 1:30 to 4pm.