Joan C. Faith

Joan Catherine Faith

Joan Catherine Faith, age 67, of Lynch, passed away Saturday June 25, 2011, at Bryan LGH Medical Center East in Lincoln.

Visitation was held Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Lynch.

Funeral Services were held Thursday June 30, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Lynch. Pastor Paulo de Tarso Ribeiro officiated. 

Burial was at the Alford Cemetery in Monowi.

Arrangements are by Brockhaus Funeral Home in Spencer. 

Joan Catherine Faith was born May 26, 1944 in O’Neill, Nebraska. Her childhood was spent in the Emmet and O’Neill area, where she attended O’Neill High School, graduating in 1962.

Following high school, Joan attended Wayne State College, graduating with a major in Home Economics and a minor in Mathematics. Throughout the years, she vigorously attended classes and training to further her education, falling just short of obtaining a master’s degree.

On August 13, 1966 Joan was wed to LeRoy Faith of rural Creighton. They moved to Lynch, Nebraska and had two children – Candace (Candy) Joan and Monte Lee.

For 45 years, Joan lived in Lynch where she was active with school, church, and community activities. Joan taught Home Economics and Math at Lynch Public School for 34 years until retiring in 2004. Early in her career, she was also the Pep Club sponsor. Joan touched the lives of so many students. It is joked that she has taught nearly everyone in Lynch.

Joan loved to cook and sew! For many years, she was the 4-H leader for clothing projects, spending many a late night working with children on their sewing tasks. She was honored many times at 4-H award banquets for her enduring dedication to the 4-Hers of Boyd County and the Jolly 17 4-H Club of Lynch.

In 2001, she designed the now famous “Lynch Dawg”, receiving national recognition for her little stuffed prairie dog. The copyrighted “dawgs” were a spectacularly successful endeavor, created as souvenirs for visitors to the Lewis and Clarkexpedition bicentennial in 2004. For three years, Joan led the ladies of Lynch as they cut, sewed, and stuffed the cute little critters. Hundreds were made, and Joan hand-inspected every one.

She was a member of the Lynch United Methodist Church where she was active with the United Methodist Women. She also served as children’s Sunday School superintendent for many years, teaching Sunday School and organizing Vacation Bible schools.

When Joan wasn’t teaching or volunteering, she loved to go camping, travel and take vacations, play cards, dance, and visit for hours and hours with friends and family. Some of her favorite places visited over the years included Branson, Missouri, the Black Hills, and Wilbur, Nebraska for the annual Czech Festival. She loved to polka! Joan cherished time spent with her family and especially loved spoiling her two granddaughters.

Joan is survived by her husband, LeRoy Faith of Lynch; daughter, Candy and husband Shawn Clymer of Raleigh, North Carolina; son Monte Faith and wife, Deb of Lincoln, Nebraska; sister Rita and husband Terry Gallagher of Cairo, Nebraska; brother Merle Pease of O’Neill, Nebraska; two granddaughters, Celia and Kate.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Joyce Hull, Attn: United Methodist Church, Box 1, Lynch, NE, 68746.