Josephine "Jo" Lopez was born on November 13, 1928 in Valentine, Nebraska to Vicente & Mamie (Brooks) Lopez. Jo was the 8th of nine children and she joked that she should have been a boy since it went girl them boy down the line until it got to her. Jo passed away on january 24, 2021 at Pineview Good Samaritan in Valentine.
Jo graduated from Valentine High School in 1946. After graduation she took a summer job working in the ranch home of Elver & Georgia Lord, south of Valentine. While there she met Jack & Eula Coupland. Jack was looking for a legal secretary. During her interview, Jo informed him she was a better short-hand student than a typist, none the less, she was hired. This began her 37 1/2 year career as a legal secretary. She was excited to receive the first job she ever applied for.
In September 1950, the bowling alley opened and Jo began a lifelong love of the sport. She said, "Bowling is a disease, you stay with it, or get out after a year or two." This 'disease' led to her attending 29 state tournaments and two national tournaments, a high series of 622 and a high game of 238. In the early 70's she started the first junior bowling league. She was also a long-time member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
In 1958, Jo was blessed with the birth of her son, Kent, who was born 13 years to the date after her older brother was killed in WWII. This began a whirlwind of life activities, from Cub Scout Den Mother to Badger fan extraordinaire, following baseball, football, wrestling, and track across the state. From regular seasons to the Nebraska State Tournaments in Lincoln and Omaha, she was her son's biggest fan. She also made time for nieces, nephews, and all of Kent's friends and classmates. One of her later highlights was becoming a grandmother to her much-loved Sophie Jo.
She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Anita, Albert, Christina, Vicente Jr., Margaret, Leon, Rita, and Dorthea.
Jo is survived by her son, Kent Lopez and daughter-in-law, Beth of Valentine, Nebraska; granddaughter, Sophie Jo; sister-in-law, Helen Lopez Colgan of Valentine, Nebraska; and her beloved nieces and nephews.
Funeral service for Josephine Lopez, age 92, of Valentine, Nebraska will be held on Saturday, January 30th, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Valentine (masks are requested). Burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Valentine.
Visitation will be Friday, January 29th, 2021 at 3 PM at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine, Nebraska.