Janelle Lois Hoefs was born Feb. 6, 1939, in West Point, to Jim and Ruth (Pestel) Means.
Her faith journey began in Wisner, where she was both baptized and confirmed at the Methodist church. She attended elementary school at District #9 in rural Wisner and went on to graduate from Wisner High School in 1956.
On Feb. 24, 1957, Janelle was united in marriage to David Hoefs at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Wisner. During the early years of their life together, Janelle’s primary focus was her home and her two children, Brad and Brenda. In addition to being a devoted mother, she served as the bookkeeper for the family’s various farming, dairy and feeder livestock operations.
Janelle was deeply involved in her community and church. She taught Sunday School at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Wisner and served as a local Brownie leader. An active member of the Wisner Jr. Women’s Club, she also held part-time positions at the Wisner telephone office, a dental office and a chiropractic office. In the early 1970s, Janelle and David were foster parents to three children.
In the late 1970s, she combined her love of education with her love for children by starting and operating a pre-school out of her home. For a brief period, she also raised and sold Schipperke puppies. Throughout her years in Wisner, Janelle was known as a compassionate caregiver and a loyal friend to many older relatives in the area.
In 1980, Janelle and David moved to Seward, where they purchased Seward Bowl and Sparetime Lounge. They owned and operated the business until 2016, with Janelle serving as the bookkeeper, payroll officer and snack bar manager. Outside of work, she was a member of The Rock Lutheran Church and the Nebraska Bowling Proprietors Association. She shared her love for the sport as a member of the Wednesday Morning Women’s League for many years.
Janelle’s greatest joy, however, was her role as a grandmother and great-grandmother. She and David celebrated a milestone 60th wedding anniversary in February 2017, just months before David passed away in May of that year. Throughout her life, Janelle cherished her many friendships, always making it a priority to stay in touch with loved ones near and far.
Janelle passed away in Seward on April 4, 2026, at the age of 87 years, 1 month, and 29 days.
She was preceded in death by: her husband; her parents; her step-mother, Malinda Means; her infant brother, Melvin; her in-laws, Danny and Dolores Hoefs, Virgil and Delores Hoefs, Marilyn and Don Schlueter, Gary and Dorothea Hoefs, Tom Hoefs, Sarah Nielsen and Alice Lemmon; her nieces, Vivian Collins and Susan McShane; step-siblings, Wally Rabbass, Larry Rabbass and Lois Kudlac; and step-nieces: Linda Montgomery and Sue Kudlac.
Janelle is survived by her children, Brad (Donna) Hoefs, Elkhorn, and Brenda (Tom) Rief, Seward; foster son, Kevin Meier; sister, Gladys (Stan) Whitcomb, Scottsdale, Arizona; grandchildren, Noah (Meghan) Hoefs, Las Vegas, Nevada, Luke (Kayla) Rief, Lincoln, Tait Rief, Seward, and Noelle King, St. Joseph, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Jayden King, Ava King, Benjamin Rief, Joshua Rief, Malachi King and Zion Hoefs; in-laws, Bob Lemmon and Kathy Schoch; step-siblings and spouses, Larraine Weitzenkamp and Carol (Tony) Giesselman; and her many nieces and nephews as well as a host of friends.
Visitation will be Friday, April 10, from 1 – 8 p.m. at Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home, with family receiving guests from 6 – 8 p.m. The funeral service is Saturday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m. at The Rock Lutheran Church with burial at the Seward Cemetery.
Arrangements bt Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home.
