Josephine Jane (Svehla) Pankoke was born February 16, 1937 in Friend, Nebraska, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Korensky) Svehla and passed away in Seward, Nebraska on June 14, 2016 at the age of 79 years, 3 months, 29 days. Josephine grew up and attended school in the Friend area. On August 30, 1954, Josephine was united in marriage to Clarence Eugene Pankoke and their marriage was blessed with five children: John, Keith, Bruce, Deb and Stacy. Jo's employment included, Sunrise Country Manor in Milford, the Friend Manor and Hospital in housekeeping and food service; she was employed with Pac N Save for many years working in the deli area and retired in 2008, following Clarence's death. Jo loved gardening and helping her children with their homes, assisting with cleaning and cooking. When her children were young, Jo enjoyed camping and road tripping with friends. She also loved the frenzy of "March Madness" and keeping up with her grandchildren and their sporting events. Jo also liked her "beer-thirty".

Preceding Jo in death were her parents; her husband, Clarence in 2008; daughter-in-law, Cara Pankoke; great-grandchild, Tyson Zimmer; brother, Joseph Svehla and her sisters, Rosie Robinson and Helen  and  Don Hillgren; sister-in-law, Carol Svehla; and brother-in-law, Roger Miller.

Survivors cherishing Josephine's memory are her children and their spouses, John and Jennett Pankoke, Blanchard, ID, Keith Pankoke, Beaver Crossing, Bruce and Linda Pankoke, Beaver Crossing, Deb and Jack Zimmer, Beaver Crossing, Stacy and Jim Lawver, Friend; sisters, Patricia and Don Anderson, Friend and Dorothy Hessheimer, Crete; brother, Leonard  Svehla, Crete; sister-in-law, Phyllis Svehla, Friend; ten grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and a host of friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Josephine.