Laura Joanne Stenzel, age 89, passed away on November 30, 2019 at the Ness County Hospital in Ness City. She was born on December 27, 1929 in Ness County the daughter of William and Lois (McDonald) Borger.
Joanne was a 1948 graduate of Ness City High School and a graduate of Halstead School of Nursing. She started her nursing career at the Rush County Hospital, she then went to work at the Ness County Hospital where she worked for 20 years. Joanne was hired by the Ness County Commissioners to start the Ness County Health Department where she worked for 20 years.
She married Richard Stenzel on July 28, 1951, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The couple lived on the farm half-way between Bazine and Ness City until they built their home in Ness city in 1963. Joanne enjoyed taxiing around her family during farming duties, attending school and summer activities, spending summer weekends at Cedar Buff Lake, taking trips in the camper, annual state fair camper trips, bowling on bowling teams, and traveling. During their later years they enjoyed attending the grandchildren's activities, watching KU basketball and Royal's baseball games, even if they were taped and watching until midnight. Richard died on July 28, 2014.
Joanne knitted clothes and throws for the family, always knitting while riding in the car or camper or when watching her favorite teams on TV. She was a member of the Ness City United Methodist Church and the Ness County Nursing Club. She was a nurse for the Ransom and Bazine schools and loved her allergy shot clients.
Survivors include her daughter, Susan Kuehn and her husband, Larry, of Bazine; son, Mark Richard Stenzel and his wife, Dana, of Bazine; brother, Rodney Borger (Karen) of Ness City and Tim Borger (Pam) of Cheyenne, Wyoming; sister, Shelby Seib (Paul) of Ness City; grandchildren, Aaron (Rachel) Kuehn, David Kuehn, Kelly (Ross) Stenzel, and Paige (Adam) Brobst; and great grandchildren, Jordan, Avery, and Lila. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sons, William Victor and Michael Jay Stenzel; and sisters, Marjorie Sackett and Nathalie Schaben.
Funeral service will be on Thursday, December 5, 2019, 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Ness City. Burial in the Ness City Cemetery. Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. unit 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Ness County Healthcare Foundation, United Methodist Church, Ness City, KS