JoAnne Ashburn

God’s child and our mother, JoAnne Ashburn, went home to be with the Lord on August 26, 2026, in Louisburg, KS.

JoAnne was born to Arthur Jon and Agnes Natalie Nelson in Thayer, Kansas on September 29th,1930. Her parents and 10 siblings all preceded her in death.

She grew up on a farm, and remembered well taking care of the chickens. She played the bugle as part of the drum & bugle corps in school. In 1948, she graduated from Chanute High School.

She married Chester Ashburn in 1953. They had four daughters: Paula Brandenburg, Brenda Kennedy (Patrick), Donna Erwin (Kevin), and Jan Gifford (Timothy). She relocated to Overland Park, KS, living and raising the girls in that area. She eventually moved back to Chanute, living for many years there with her sister, Dorothy. Then, in 2013, she moved to Louisburg, KS to be closer to her family.

JoAnne worked as an executive secretary with Boeing during the war, and then with Black & Veatch in Overland Park. She also worked with her sister, Dorothy, at Dorothy's Floral, in Chanute.

She daily lived out her faith in God and was very involved in her church. In addition to serving as church Secretary for many years, she sang in the choir, served in numerous ministries, was active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society, and even taught adult Bible classes.

She enjoyed many hobbies like gardening, sewing, and handcrafts. She was an excellent baker, and always had treats waiting for her family, whom she loved dearly.

She is survived by her 4 daughters, 10 grandchildren (David, Jennifer, Hiedi, Debbi, Jonathan, Jessica, Katie, Andrew, Toby, and Daniel), 14 great grandchildren, who lovingly called her GG, and 4 great great grandchildren.

At 95, JoAnne had lived a full life as a Christian woman devoted to God and her family. She was a light pointing others to Jesus, and now she is enjoying eternity with her LORD. ALLELUIA!

The Lord is my Shepherd.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at Dengel & Son Mortuary - Louisburg Chapel, 1 Aquatic Drive, Louisburg, Kansas 66053. Graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm, at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1400 S Katy Road, Chanute, Kansas 66720.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made payable to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 5 S 8th Street, Louisburg, Kansas 66053.

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