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JoEllen Hakenkamp Vrbka

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Birth	:	30 Jan 1933 McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska, USA
Death	:	27 Feb 2015 David City, Butler County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Holy Trinity Cemetery, Brainard, Butler County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.1777992, -96.9953003
Description	:	Butler County has lost a dedicated worker in health care, someone who worked more than 40 years as nurse, director of nurses and hospital administrator. JoEllen Hakenkamp was born Jan. 30, 1933 in McCook to Joseph and Claire (Beecham) Hakenkamp. She lived on a farm near McCook until eighth grade, when her family moved to Lincoln. She graduated from Blessed Sacrament High School in Lincoln and then from St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing as a registered nurse. JoEllen worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital for a year after graduation in the obstetrics department. On Aug. 18, 1954, she married... Read More	Butler County has lost a dedicated worker in health care, someone who worked more than 40 years as nurse, director of nurses and hospital administrator. JoEllen Hakenkamp was born Jan. 30, 1933 in McCook to Joseph and Claire (Beecham) Hakenkamp. She lived on a farm near McCook until eighth grade, when her family moved to Lincoln. She graduated from Blessed Sacrament High School in Lincoln and then from St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing as a registered nurse. JoEllen worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital for a year after graduation in the obstetrics department. On Aug. 18, 1954, she married Denis Vrbka and moved to the family farm near Brainard. In September 1954, she began working at the David City Hospital as staff nurse. In September 1955, the first of the couple’s three children was born so JoEllen cut back from working full-time to part-time and continued in that capacity for about the next 10 years, until the mid-1960s. At that time, she returned as a full-time staff nurse. She later served as director of nurses for about 10 years. In 1979, JoEllen was named administrator of the Butler County Hospital, only the second administrator of the hospital. During her tenure, JoEllen oversaw growth in nearly all departments throughout the hospital as well as the addition of several new areas such as Social Services, Home Health, Wellness Center, Rural Health Clinics, Volunteers, Future Generations Health Care Foundation, public relations, ambulance and respiratory therapy. She also helped with long range planning for the hospital by serving on its board of directors, made sure that hospital policies and procedures were carried out, worked with the budget and represented the hospital at community events, in addition to a variety of other tasks. As hospital administrator, JoEllen was in charge during a major construction project in 1990 that saw the addition of the Butler County Clinic at the north end and a Wellness Center at the south end. It was at that time that the name Butler County Health Care Center was given to the entire complex. Even at the time of her retirement, JoEllen was overseeing another remodeling project that was to include construction on a new front addition to the hospital. It seemed the projects never ended, yet the ongoing work—both in physical construction and technology—helped make the Butler County Health Care Center a star among smaller hospitals. In 2013, JoEllen was honored at a program at St. Joseph’s Villa, where she was residing. “JoEllen is an example of community pride, strength and innovation,” those attending the program were told. “During her years at the Butler County hospital as director of nursing and administrator, JoEllen looked to the future and brought new technology and skills to David City that have benefited all of us.” John Klostermann, a member of the Butler County Health Care Center board, summed it up: “JoEllen moved us into the future.” JoEllen timed her retirement in 1995 to coincide with her husband’s. Denis left full-time farming in the spring of that year and JoEllen followed suit after devoting more than 40 years to health care in Butler County. In retirement, the couple traveled including elder hostels in the United States and Canada. They toured the Czech Republic, where they made lifelong friends. While they were on a trip to Ireland and England, the 9/11 attack on the United States occurred. At home in retirement, the couple kept busy in various ways. They belonged to Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Brainard and took part in many parish activities. JoEllen was a member of the church’s PCCW and UGLY quilter’s group. She loved to quilt on her own also and made quilts for her children and grandchildren. She cofounded Brainard Area Seniors in Sept. 2003, was a member of the Brainard Community Club, and she was very involved in writing grants for the Village and the Technology Center. Her grandchildren were the love of her life and JoEllen taught her granddaughters to sew and make kolaches (she always had kolaches ready for her family when they visited). She and Denis also loved to travel with their grandkids, including a trip to Disney World. Chermok Funeral Home

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is JoEllen Hakenkamp Vrbka's memorial?
JoEllen Hakenkamp Vrbka's memorial is located at: Holy Trinity Cemetery, Brainard, Butler County, USA.
When did JoEllen Hakenkamp Vrbka death?
JoEllen Hakenkamp Vrbka death on 27 Feb 2015 in David City, Butler County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the JoEllen Hakenkamp Vrbka's memorial?
Latitude: 41.1777992
Longitude: -96.9953003

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Denis John Vrbka

(1930 - 2015)

Siblings

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Holy Trinity Cemetery
Brainard, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1777992, -96.9953003

2. Bohemian National Cemetery
Brainard, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1770300, -96.9885800

3. Old Catholic Cemetery
Brainard, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1772300, -96.9871300

4. Brainard IOOF Cemetery
Brainard, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1772700, -96.9860000

5. Oak Creek Cemetery
Brainard, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1656000, -96.9410000

6. Saint Lukes Cemetery
Loma, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1335983, -96.9460983

7. Saint Francis Catholic Cemetery
David City, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1884020, -97.0841270

8. Talbot Cemetery
Newman Township, Saunders County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2201950, -96.9082630

9. Fricke Cemetery
Bruno, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2564011, -96.9664001

10. Ware Cemetery
Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1185989, -97.0802994

11. Saint Anthony Cemetery
Bruno, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2743988, -96.9869003

12. Assumption Catholic Cemetery
Dwight, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0746994, -97.0242004

13. Union Cemetery
Dwight, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0755997, -97.0419006

14. Saint Marys Cemetery
David City, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2430992, -97.1177979

15. Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery
Appleton, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2922000, -97.0396000

16. David City Cemetery
David City, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2346992, -97.1350021

17. Bohemian Cemetery
Bruno, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2933006, -96.9431000

18. Garrison Cemetery
Garrison, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1704350, -97.1623720

19. National Bohemian Cemetery
Newman Township, Saunders County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2025290, -96.8303790

20. Saint Vitus Cemetery
Touhy, Saunders County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1361008, -96.8225021

21. Saints Cyril and Methodius Cemetery
Elk Township, Saunders County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2646000, -96.8444000

22. Grim Cemetery
Ulysses, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1130981, -97.1763992

23. Valparaiso Cemetery
Valparaiso, Saunders County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0758018, -96.8471985

24. Faith Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery East
Garrison, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1573970, -97.1949610