She attended St. Boniface Catholic School through 8th grade and then Central Catholic High School where she graduated in 1971. Joan continued her education at Bahner’s College of Beauty in Fremont, NE and graduated with a Cosmetology Diploma in 1973. Her career took her to Lincoln, NE where she worked 40+ years as a hairstylist at several different salons – Salon Continental, Touch of Magic and at Tabitha Health Care Services in their salon. She did what she loved to do – make people look and feel beautiful. She took great pride in the hair colors she did – she always said you had to mix the right colors to get the exact desired shade, and she was the best at it!
Living in Lincoln, Joan met the love of her life and married Stephen (Steve) Kinnett July 7, 1979. Together they had a son, Ryan, and then moved to Waverly, NE and had another son Derek. Joan loved her boys deeply and they kept her busy trying to keep them out of trouble. Outside of work and parenthood, Joan had a wide variety of interests and hobbies. She loved to go to the races at Eagle Raceway and watch NASCAR races on TV. Summers were spent camping with Steve and the boys and winters were spent in the kitchen cooking and baking all sorts of dishes and desserts her family loved and enjoyed. Watching TV was something Joan enjoyed very much in her later years. From Matlock, to Gunsmoke, to Monk and the Andy Griffith Show, she watched them all time and time again and never tired of them.
Joan loved life to the fullest in spite of her chronic medical conditions that usually never stopped her from having fun and enjoying many wonderful times with family and friends. After retiring from her hairdresser career in 2015, Joan enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, family, friends and her “Ya-Ya” sisterhood. In 2020, Joan moved to the Lexington Assisted Living facility in Lincoln where she spent the next four years living life to the fullest and loving her home and the staff and residents, but most of all, the musical entertainment and activities provided at the facility. She was always a ray of sunshine with her quick wit, infectious laugh and onery shenanigans.
Joan is survived by her sons, Ryan (Christina) Kinnett and Derek (Aubrey) Kinnett, all of Lincoln; grandchildren Kenley & Aamanda Kinnett and Aden & Riley Kinnett; siblings Kathy (Gordy) Yunker of Hartington, NE; Mary Kay (David) Evert of West Point, NE; Jim (Carol) Franzluebbers of West Point and Eileen Parker of Waverly, NE and many beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews. Joan is preceded in death by her parents, spouse Steve (2012), three infant children – Eric (1983), Corey (1987) and Tyler (1991), brothers-in-law Kirk Parker (2022) and Mike Kinnett (2016).
Visitation with the family will be Friday, December 20, 2024 5:00 p.m. until the rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Roper and Sons Waverly Chapel, 10841 N. 148th Street, Waverly, NE.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 21, 2024 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 6111 Morrill Avenue, Lincoln, NE.
Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.
Memorials may be given to the family.