Joan L. (Goettsche) Kay

Funeral Services for Joan L. Kay, 85, Norfolk, will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at the Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue.  Chaplain Gordon Braun will officiate.  Interment will be in Westlawn Memorial Park in Grand Island.  Visitation will be one hour prior to service at the chapel.  Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

She passed away Friday, May 29, 2020 at the Heritage of Bel Air in Norfolk.

Joan was born January 9, 1935 in Grand Island, Nebraska to John and Simone (Rigby) Goettsche.  She attended Duchesne College in Omaha.

In 1955, Joan married Robert Hathaway in Grand Island.  The couple was blessed with four children:  Vivian, Barbara, David and John.  The couple later divorced.

On January 30, 1966, Joan married Jerry Kay in Grand Island.  The couple was married for 44 years.  Jerry passed away on May 13, 2010.

Joan worked as an executive secretary in Grand Island for 21 years before going in to the restaurant business.  She owned the Villa Inn for 13 years, then Johnnie’s Steakhouse in Columbus and finally Bruno’s Lounge and Restaurant. 

Joan enjoyed painting, her crafts, her book club, her card club, and spending time with her children and all her grandchildren.

She is survived by her children Vivian Marr of Omaha, Barbara (Terry) Lichtenberg of Norfolk, David (Joni) Hathaway of Norfolk, and John (Colleen) Hathaway of  Yuma, Arizona, 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, brother Jim (Sharon) Goettsche of Columbus, sister Susie (Terry) Lerdall of Elwood and sisters- in-law Jean Caudill and Marilyn Beyersdorf.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jerry, sister June Celmer, a great grandson, brothers-in-law Gary Caudill and Ray Beyersdorf, and nephew Michael Beyersdorf.

 Service Information