Jeanne (Bunger) Harshbarger, of North Platte, Nebraska passed away at her home under hospice care on December 9, 2020, at the age of 71.
Jeanne was born April 7, 1949, to John and Ruth Bunger in North Platte. Jeanne was one of seven children and lived her entire life in North Platte.
Jeanne graduated from North Platte High School in 1967. She married her high school sweetheart, Gregg Harshbarger, on July 1, 1967, and to this union three beautiful daughters, Shelley, Dawn and Dena Mae, blessed their family.
Jeanne was a stay-at-home mom while the girls were in elementary school. She volunteered at Cody Elementary School in Dena's classroom so she could be of service to the many teachers who helped Dena, then was a para-educator at Washington Elementary for three years helping in kindergarten, fifth grade and special education classrooms. From there, Jeanne was a teacher at Eastside Old McDonald Preschool for three years.
At the age of 33, Jeanne went to college and earned her Associate of Arts Degree from Mid Plains Community College in North Platte in 1984. She then attended night classes through Kearney State College, graduating Magna Cum Laude in Elementary Education in '89. Jeanne began her teaching career at Washington Elementary, teaching fifth grade for 10 years then transferred to Adams Middle School where she taught sixth grade for eight years until retiring in 2008. Jeanne took the love of teaching with her throughout her journey in life.
Once Jeanne and Gregg retired they spent many wonderful years traveling. They made their second home and met their second family in Yuma, AZ, at Bonita Mesa. Their lives in Arizona were busy with golfing, cards, jeeping, dancing and teaching ballroom dance to members in the park. Jeanne was also active in recovery groups while in Yuma. She and Gregg spent wonderful times with Bunger relatives in Yuma! Jeanne's bucket list in 2017 was to travel to Canada to visit their many Canadian friends, and that she did.
Over the years Jeanne was involved in many aspects of her children and grandchildren's lives as well as her community and church. Jeanne coached for her daughter's softball team and Special Olympics with Shelley and Dawn, was a Campfire Leader and past president of the Opportunity Center. Jeanne volunteered with Goodfellows Shoe Fund, Prairie Arts Center and Great Plains Health and was a 30 year member of Alcoholics Anonymous where she gave support to others in recovery.
Jeanne was an active member of First United Methodist Church. She was on a church circle, taught Sunday School and was a Youth Group leader for junior/senior high students for many years. Her favorite moments of teaching and being of service was when she was a Youth Group leader.
Gregg and Jeanne loved golfing together at different golf courses. They enjoyed camping and being with their five grandchildren. Her best memories with them were the BRAN bicycle trips across Nebraska in their camper; Grandma Jeanne would drive the camper and entertain the grandkids. Rarely did Gregg and Jeanne miss a sporting event, musical performance, honor's night or high school or college function of their grandkids, she was their biggest fan!
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ruth Bunger; brothers, Larry, Gary and Jack Bunger; sister, Betty (Bob) Ohlund; brother-in-law, Eddie Pacheco; nephews, Charles Pacheco and Gary Eugene Bunger; and her in-laws, Forrest and Eunice Harshbarger.
Jeanne is survived by her husband, Gregg, of North Platte, Nebraska; daughters, Shelley (Steve) Martinez, of Hastings, Nebraska and Dawn (Ken) Folchert and Dena Mae Harshbarger, of North Platte, Nebraska; grandchildren, Nicholas, Marisa and Dominic Martinez and Kade and Zakary Folchert; her sister, Fran Pacheco, and brother, Charlie Bunger, both of North Platte; sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Bunger, of Yuma, AZ, and Sharrell Bunger, of Tumwater, WA; brothers-in-law, Kern (Barb) Harshbarger, of Kearney, Nebraska and Joe (Karen) Harshbarger, of Bridgeport, Nebraska; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and a multitude of loving friends.
Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, December 14, 2020 followed by an informal time of sharing with family and friends at Odean Colonial Chapel. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 15, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte, Nebraska, which is in charge of arrangements. Cremation will follow the service. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are to American Legion Baseball, Goodfellows Shoe Fund, Callahan Cancer Center or the Methodist Church.