Joan Erxleben

Joan (Adams) Erxleben passed away at Homestead Assisted Living, El Dorado, Kansas.  She was born to Albert (1917-2004) and Martha (Nowak) Adams on December 25, 1942, in Hastings, NE.

Joan grew up in Hastings, NE, graduating from Hastings High School in 1961.  After high school, she put herself through beauty school, something she had always wanted to do. She was united in marriage to Ernest P. Erxleben (1940-2011) in Hastings on May 14, 1966.  They eventually settled in Wheeler County, Bartlett, NE, in their beloved Sandhills.  

Joan was the mother to three children and an independent business owner.  She owned and operated The Finishing Touch beauty salon in Bartlett for 30 years.  She took great pride in her work as a hairdresser.  Joan was involved in the community as a Sunday School teacher, 4-H Leader, supporter of the Wheeler County Community Foundation, a great gardener, spending hot summers in the kitchen canning, a wonderful cook, loved taking care of her yard and flowers, and was an advocate for the care of farm ground and pastures. Joan enjoyed doing a bit of gambling and shopping with friends.  She looked forward to her adventures and trips with her four childhood friends, who all stayed connected for over 50 years.  Joan enjoyed going on some adventurous vacations in the United States and across the oceans.  Joan was a model of the importance of good morals and values.  

Those who knew her and loved her, knew she was fiercely independent, dedicated, devoted, straight forward, ornery and the epitome of what it means to have “true grit”.

 Joan leaves behind her children Angie Erxleben of Arizona, Thomas Erxleben of Ashby, NE, and Tonja (Brad) Morgan of Cedar Point, KS; two grandsons Tate and Drewe Morgan.  She is preceded in death by her husband Ernie, her mother, stepmother Betty (Campbell) Adams and her father Albert.  Yazel Megli Funeral Home, Marion, KS is serving the family.  Cremation has taken place and inurnment will follow at a later date in the Bartlett Cemetery.  Please sign her online guest book and leave a memory of Joan at www.yazelmeglifh.com.