September 16, 1944 - December 8, 2024

JoAnn Bruning, 80, of Minden, passed away on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at her home. Memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 3, 2025, at Minden Evangelical Free Church with Rev. Tom Barnes officiating. The service was streamed to the church’s YouTube page. There was no visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials in JoAnn’s honor are kindly suggested to Nebraska Christian School at 1847 Inskip Avenue, Central City, NE 68826. Arrangements are under the care of Craig Funeral Home in Minden.

Tributes and memories can be shared with the family at www. craigfunerals.com.

JoAnn Bruning was born on September 16, 1944 in Bruning to Fred W. and Velma A. (Goodman) Middendorf. She grew up in the rural Bruning area and attended a rural county School as well as Bruning Public Schools.

She was united in marriage to Ross W. Bruning on August 9, 1961 in Concordia, KS and to this union, two children were born: Jodie W. and Gregory R. The family made their home in Minden where JoAnn was a homemaker and helped with the farming and ranching.

JoAnn placed her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in 1974. JoAnn was a member of Minden Evangelical Free Church and also attended Cornerstone Berean Church in Kearney for a period of time. She was a deaconess in at the E-Free Church in Minden and she helped teach Sunday School and Awana there. In her younger days, JoAnn enjoyed fixing ladies’ hair at Bethany Home and cleaning elderly friends’ homes.

She loved spending time with family and friends, and living rural life with dogs, cats, horses, and cattle. JoAnn also enjoyed reading books, tending to her flowers, and meeting with her friends in the ”Coffee Club”.

Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Jodie W. Bruning and wife, Lois Bruning (Smith), of Minden, and granddaughter, Amy (Bruning) Kingston and husband, Dakota Kingston; son, Gregory R. Bruning and wife, Julie Bruning (Hofer) of Chapman, granddaughter, Alexandra Bruning, and great-granddaughter, Senna Bruning; as well as a host of extended relatives and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ross W. Bruning; parents, Fred and Velma Middendorf (Buckingham), step-father Bill Buckingham; and sister, Marlene (Middendorf) Bahr.