Joan G. McGinley

Joan McGinley of Lisco, NE, passed on March 19, 2026.

The rosary will be on Friday, April 10, at 7 p.m. at St. Gall's Catholic Church in Lisco. The funeral Mass will be Saturday, April 11, at 10 a.m. at St. Gall's, with Fr. Bryan Ernest and Fr Mike McDonald concelebrating and Deacon Dixon Powers assisting, followed by a luncheon at the Lisco Legion Hall.

Joan was born on December 15, 1936, in Oshkosh, Nebraska. At only 10 days old, she rode the train to Los Angeles, CA, with her mother and sister to join her father. The family lived there until they moved back to Oshkosh before Joan's freshman year of high school.

Upon graduation, Joan worked as a secretary at Garden County High School and then attended college in Santa Rosa, California. Following college, she moved to Omaha, NE, where she lived and trained to become a flight attendant. Her young age prevented her from becoming a flight attendant at the time, so she moved to Denver, CO, with a close friend and worked as a secretary. She then moved to Cheyenne, WY, for flight attendant training and graduated at the head of her class. She first met her husband, Mike McGinley-a tobacco-chewing cowboy she knew nothing about- at the Lisco Saint Patrick's Day Dance. They married in 1959, and she became a devoted wife and mother living on a ranch North of Lisco.

Her kind and giving spirit served others far beyond the reach of her family. Showcased over the years, as the Busy Bee's 4-H club leader, time spent working in the Courtyard Cafe, embroidering t-shirts and sweatshirts for a local business, as a committed member of St. Gall's Altar Society, and as a dedicated employee of the Cabela's Return Department.

Joan's generosity, kindness, and service to others are her mark on this world and have left a lasting ripple of impact. She was a true friend, devout Catholic, caring wife, looked-up-to mother, outstanding grandmother, and valued member of the community.

She is preceded in death by her sister Merrilyn Nygren and parents, Merril and Mae Nygren.

We have much to learn from her life and legacy as those she leaves behind include: Her husband of 66 years, Mike McGinley, brother, Rick (Patty) Nygren nephews, Troy and Matt Nygren, son, Joe McGinley, daughter, Deann (Marshall) Eaton, granddaughters, Aspen (Logan) Dick, and Talyn Eaton. Daughter, Teri (Merrit) Linke, granddaughter, Rachel (Wade) Allnutt and great-grandchildren Macy and Charlie Allnutt, granddaughter, McCall (TJ) Knecht and great-granddaughters Ottillie and Presley Knecht, and grandson Jace (Morea) Linke, and great-grandson, Mack Linke.

Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the Mass will be streamed live.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.