WATER MAIN BREAK ALERT
Location: 8th Street (between Bates Ave and Kentucky Ave) & Quail Run to 7th Street.
Impact: Water main shutoff currently in progress for active repairs.
Estimated Restoration: Late this evening.
Crews are on-site working to complete repairs and restore service as quickly and safely as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience!
JoAnne was born to Arthur Jon and Agnes Natalie Nelson in Thayer, Kansas on September 29th,1930. Her parents and 10 siblings all preceded her in death.
She grew up on a farm, and remembered well taking care of the chickens. She played the bugle as part of the drum & bugle corps in school. In 1948, she graduated from Chanute High School.
She married Chester Ashburn in 1953. They had four daughters: Paula Brandenburg, Brenda Kennedy (Patrick), Donna Erwin (Kevin), and Jan Gifford (Timothy). She relocated to Overland Park, KS, living and raising the girls in that area. She eventually moved back to Chanute, living for many years there with her sister, Dorothy. Then, in 2013, she moved to Louisburg, KS to be closer to her family.
JoAnne worked as an executive secretary with Boeing during the war, and then with Black & Veatch in Overland Park. She also worked with her sister, Dorothy, at Dorothy's Floral, in Chanute.
She daily lived out her faith in God and was very involved in her church. In addition to serving as church Secretary for many years, she sang in the choir, served in numerous ministries, was active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society, and even taught adult Bible classes.
She enjoyed many hobbies like gardening, sewing, and handcrafts. She was an excellent baker, and always had treats waiting for her family, whom she loved dearly.
She is survived by her 4 daughters, 10 grandchildren (David, Jennifer, Hiedi, Debbi, Jonathan, Jessica, Katie, Andrew, Toby, and Daniel), 14 great grandchildren, who lovingly called her GG, and 4 great great grandchildren.
At 95, JoAnne had lived a full life as a Christian woman devoted to God and her family. She was a light pointing others to Jesus, and now she is enjoying eternity with her LORD. ALLELUIA!
The Lord is my Shepherd.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at Dengel & Son Mortuary - Louisburg Chapel, 1 Aquatic Drive, Louisburg, Kansas 66053. Graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm, at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1400 S Katy Road, Chanute, Kansas 66720.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made payable to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 5 S 8th Street, Louisburg, Kansas 66053.
.webp)
Cremation with a celebration of life service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation. Donations can be made through the link or mailed to Dickey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 432, Harrisonville, Missouri 64701.
A complete obituary and service times will be posted once that information becomes available.
