Joann Fern Hrabe was born on Friday, December 13, 1963, in Quinter, Kansas to Leonard and Linda (Bedore) Hrabe. She passed away Monday, February 3, 2025, at the Republic County Hospital in Belleville, KS at the age of 61. Legend has it, it was 13 below zero and Joann was a breach baby. Sometime in 1964, Leonard, Linda and Joann moved to Smith Center, so Leonard could run the creamery store in downtown Smith Center. Joann went to grade school and high school in Smith Center. She graduated high school in 1982.
From there she spent some time in Texas and then moved back to Kansas and attended vo-tech in Beloit. She worked at the Mitchell County Clerk’s Office for several years and then in 2001, she followed in dad’s footsteps and started working as a Motor Carrier Inspector in Belleville. She retired in June 2021 after 20 years of service.
Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Linda Hrabe. Paternal grandparents, Amos and Opal Hrabe and maternal grandparents, Bill and Velma Bedore and step-grandmother, Ruby Bedore.
Survived by brother, Chris Hrabe and his wife Cheri and sister, Shannon Schmidt and her husband Jay. Her beloved nephews and nieces, Kyle and his wife Gina, Tiffini, Ashlie (Darby), Nathan and Hannah (Quinn). Great nephews and nieces, Bristol, Bridger, Colby and Alivia.
Also surviving are cherished uncles and aunts; Larry Bedore and his wife, Susan and Elaine Horn and her husband Jim. Cousins, Patrick (Missy) Bedore; Becky (Gantley) Wilson; Deb (Keenan) Smith and Donna (Rennie) Griem.
Celebration of Life Services will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Rentschler Family Mortuaries, Simmons-Rentschler Chapel in Smith Center, KS.
The family requests memorial contributions be given to the Joan F. Hrabe Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of the mortuary.
To leave an online condolence visit www.rfmortuaries.com