Josephine Harms

Josephine Harms was born on July 7, 1919 at Wauneta Nebraska. She was the youngest of two children born to Joseph and Agnes Waidley Rowley. Her father Joseph died while Agnes was pregnant with Josephine. Jo spent her childhood in Washington and Chase County Nebraska along with numerous other homes. She attended high school in Loveland Colorado and also spent her free time working for the elderly or in the strawberry and raspberry fields. After graduation she moved to Denver where she met Earl Harms. They were married on March 16, 1939 in Julesburg Colorado. Six children-Donald, Jerry, Patricia, Harry, Golden, and Byron were born to this union.
Jo had a big heart and a love for all. In addition to raising her own children, she helped raise 22 foster children through the years. Jo was active for many years in both church and teaching Sunday School. Jo loved music and instilled that in all her children, playing the piano and accompanying them with their various instruments.
Jo and Earl lived on a farm near Brandon for many years and during this period she worked at the Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant for 23 years- allowing her to fulfill her lifelong ambition of nursing. Jo suffered many losses in her life but she remained faithful to the Lord and drew her quiet strength from Him. Jo and Earl moved to Paxton in 1983 and lived there until 2005 when they moved to Julesburg where they lived with their son and his wife. Earl died in 2006 and Jo had been in failing health when she died on Friday afternoon, April 3, 2015. she had reached the age of 95.
Jo enjoyed baking, cooking, sewing, and working in her yard. She loved her flowers and always taught her children and grandchildren to leave a place in better shape than they found it. Jo had a quiet strength and wisdom about her. Jo was about the love she had for her Lord and for her family. In doing family research through ancestry, her lineage was traced back to the 1600’s in England where she counted various Dukes, Earls, and other royalty in her lineage. She wanted to be sure that was in her obituary as she told her grandchildren she always knew she was “royal”- with a chuckle and a smile. Jo never had a lot of money but she had a lot of love and she gave that to her family and freinds willingly.
In addition to her parents and her step-father,Golden Flewelling, Jo was preceded in death by her husband, 3 sons- Donald, Harry, and Golden; 2 granddaughters- Patricia Barzack and Brenda Harms; her brother-Byron Rowley and 2 step-brothers, Robert and William Flewelling.
She is survived by 2 sons- Jerry (Jennifer) Harms of Minitare and Byron “Barney” (Debi) Harms of Julesburg; one daughter- Patricia Barzack of Oregon and daughter-in-law, Eleanor Harms of Milford Nebr; granddaughters- Donna (Gus) Blohn of Lincoln, Debbie Sue Harms of Portland Oregon, Tammy (Scott) Lightfritz of Oshkosh, Teresa (Gerry) Goldenstein of Venango, Tamara (Mike) Murphy in Oregon, Natalie (Mike) Pankonin of Chappell, and Heather (Carson) Smart of Atwood Colorado; grandsons- Doug Harms of Milford, Jerry Lee (Connie) Harms of Gering, Richie Harms of Minitare, Joe Barzack of North Platte, Henry Barzack of Oregon; 25 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren; many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services- Wednesday, April 8 at 10:30 a.m. at the Grant United Methodist Church with Pastor Jack Norris and Richard Stewart, officiating. Burial was in the Grant Cemetery. Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.