| Joan Kay Oeltjen |
Joan Kay Oeltjen, 82, of Palmer, passed away on October 12, 2026, at the Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul, surrounded by her family.
Joan was born on October 15, 1943, to Francis and Virginia Justesen of Cushing. She graduated from Palmer High School in 1961 and spent much of her life in the community she proudly called home.
In 1963, Joan married Ray Broughton, and together they welcomed three daughters: Sheri, Angie, and Kelly. After their marriage ended, Joan met the love of her life, John Oeltjen, at Skate Island. Their whirlwind romance became a favorite family story, and the two were married on August 17, 1974. Together, they welcomed their daughter, Michelle.
For fifty-two years, Joan and John shared a wonderful life filled with love, laughter, and adventure. They enjoyed traveling, spending many winters in the Arizona sunshine, and dancing whenever they had the chance. Square dancing and polkas were their favorite, and they could often be found on the dance floor nearly every weekend.
Joan worked at Pinnacle Bank in Palmer for twenty-eight years before retiring in 2018. She also worked for many years at Skagway and at the horse races at Fonner Park and in Columbus. She and John were active members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Paul, where their faith and friendships were an important part of their lives.
Kind, generous, and endlessly devoted to those she loved, Joan had a gift for making ordinary moments feel special. She never hesitated to drop everything to help someone in need, and her family always knew they could count on her.
Some of her family’s most cherished memories were made during shopping trips that became a treasured tradition over the years. Joan and her girls would pick up her mother and meet her sisters for a day of shopping in Grand Island, Lincoln, or Omaha.
Holidays were another time when Joan’s love shone brightest. She made every celebration feel special, especially through her delicious homemade cooking. Her famous baked beans were a favorite among the grandchildren, and no family gathering felt quite complete without them.
Christmas brought another treasured tradition. Every year, the grandchildren looked forward to receiving a box of candy and money from grandma. But the real fun came with the family’s famous “candy box shuffle,” when the grandkids would shake their candy boxes to make their own music. It was a simple, joyful tradition that became one of their favorite Christmas memories and will forever bring a smile to those who shared it.
Joan was her family’s biggest fan and could always be found cheering from the stands at her daughters’ and grandchildren’s sporting events. Whether it was football, wrestling, baseball, volleyball, or basketball, she rarely missed a game and was often the loudest cheerleader in the crowd. She especially loved watching her grandsons compete at state wrestling. Win or lose, her family always knew exactly where to find her: in the stands, cheering them on with all her heart.
Joan’s greatest happiness came from being surrounded by her family. She treasured every moment with her daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her love was felt not only in the big celebrations but also in the everyday moments, the helping hands, the family traditions, and the countless ways she showed up for the people who mattered most.
Joan is survived by her beloved husband of fifty-two years, John Oeltjen; daughters, Angie Pacheco (Andy Bertrand) of Kearney, Kelly Anderson of Grand Island, and Michelle (Shane) Grabenstein of Chandler, Arizona; and son-in-law, Galen Glause of Palmer.
She is also survived by her eleven grandchildren: Mark (Kaitlin), Andrew, Morgan (CharMae), and Dillon (Emily) Glause; Brandon, Anthony (Amber), and Eric (Emily) Pacheco; Dominic (Markie) and Luke Miller; Whitney (Tim) Trautman; and Hayden Grabenstein; along with nineteen great-grandchildren.
Her surviving siblings include Diane (the late Terry) Tallon of Lincoln, Gary (Kay) Justesen of Columbus, and Kathy (John) Herbig of Elba. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sheri Glause, in 2020, and her parents, Francis and Virginia Justesen.
Joan leaves behind a lifetime of beautiful memories. She will be remembered for her generous heart, her unwavering devotion to her family, and the joy she brought to so many lives.
And while her place at the holiday table can never be filled, her love will be there in every family gathering, every favorite recipe, every Christmas candy box, and every memory shared.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Paul.
Pastor Marcia Dorn and Lonna Grabenstein, P.M.A. offered words of comfort.
Valerie Killinger was the pianist.
Musical selections included “One More Day,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Crazy.”
Pallbearers were Mark Glause, Andrew Glause, Morgan Glause, Dillon Glause, Brandon Pacheco, Anthony Pacheco, Eric Pacheco, Dominic Miller, and Hayden Grabenstein.
Whitney Trautman and Lucas Miller were the honorary pallbearers.
Burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.
Memorials may be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church or to the family for later designation.
The Phonograph-Herald | October 21, 2026