Jean Alice (Maris) Wach

Jean Alice (Maris) Wach

Sept. 15, 1942 - Oct. 16, 2020

HAMLET, Neb. — Jean Alice (Maris) Wach was born on Sept. 15, 1942, at Imperial, Neb., to Floyd and Mildred (Bohlke) Maris. Jean trusted in Jesus Christ as her Savior at a young age and was baptized when she was 16. She completed eighth grade at rural Eden Country School and graduated from Wauneta High School in 1960. She married her high school sweetheart, Ronald Wach, at Hamlet Union Church in Hamlet on June 5, 1960. They had two sons, Loran and Jared. They spent the first five years of their marriage living in Hamlet and enjoyed being in a card club with other couples. They then moved north of Hamlet and worked on the family farm in Hayes County.

Jean kept an immaculately landscaped yard and especially enjoyed gardening; patiently teaching her grandchildren how to take care of plants and flowers. She was known for having a freezer full of treats and always found ways to spoil her grandkids. Anyone who knew her knew how much she adored all of her grandchildren and spent a lot of time traveling to each of their activities. At the age of 46, Jean’s life dramatically changed as her husband contracted a rare form of encephalitis called Whipples Disease and he was unable to work and required care for the next 13 years until he passed away in 2002, having been married almost 42 years.

Jean volunteered for years at Hamlet Union church nursery for Sunday School, Awana, and MOPS, enjoying this time with little ones. She was also a volunteer librarian, helping organize and categorize the church library. Jean lived with an inoperable brain tumor that was wrapped around her optic nerve, and caused her to go blind in her left eye, but she was able to continue her love and hobby of reading with what she called her “good eye” until the last year of her life. Jean enjoyed outings with the Red Hat Ladies and was the treasurer for the Meadow Lawn Cemetery for many years until 2014, when Jean was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and moved to Ogallala. While living in Ogallala Jean continued to enjoy attending her grandchildren’s events, attending Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) meetings, serving as treasurer for Stonecroft Ministries Women’s Connection and regularly attending GracePoint Church. In 2018, Jean moved to McCook and the following year moved to North Platte for the remainder of her life. Jean entered into her heavenly home at the age of 78 on Oct. 16, 2020.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Ronald; brother, Ervin Maris; sister, Elaine Bley; nephew, Evan Wach; and niece, Darlene Maris Geihsler.

Survivors include sons, Loran (Nancy) Wach of rural Hayes Center and Jared (Tammy) Wach of Ogallala; eight grandchildren: Lance (Melissa) Wach, Alex (Brittany) Wach, Larissa Wach, Andrea (Jesse) Tenney, Wesley Wach, Joel (Maisie) Wach, Adam Wach, and Kaylee Wach; great-granddaughter, Ella Wach; brother, Delbert (Roberta) Maris; sister-in-law, Sandra Maris; brothers-in-law, Ervin Bley and Gary (Ricky Sue) Wach; numerous nieces, nephews, and many other family and friends.

Funeral services for Jean A. Wach were today, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, 11 a.m., at Hamlet Union Church, Hamlet, officiated by Pastor Curtis Tschetter, followed by the burial in Meadow Lawn Cemetery in Hamlet.

Memorials may be left in Jean’s name at Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook and online condolences may be left at herrmannfh.com.

Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.