JoAnn C. (Placke) Boom Mertens

Hastings resident JoAnn C. (Placke) Boom Mertens, 91, passed away Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at Grand Island Regional Medical Center, Grand Island, NE.    

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 1, at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings with Pastor Joel Remmers officiating. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, December 1, at Blue Valley Cemetery in Ayr. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. with family present 5-7 p.m. Thursday, November 30, at the funeral home, and one hour before the service at the church. Memorials may be given to First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or Alzheimer’s Association. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to JoAnn’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page.

JoAnn was born May 25, 1932, in Juniata, NE to Fred E. and Clara N. (Alber) Placke. She was baptized at Christ Lutheran Church, rural Juniata, and was confirmed in May 1946 at Zion Lutheran Church in Hastings. JoAnn graduated from Juniata High School in 1950. She married Albert Boom on February 20, 1955; they later divorced. JoAnn married Eugene Mertens on May 16, 1981; he preceded her in death on September 25, 2011.

JoAnn worked as a timekeeper at the Naval Ammunition Depot in the 1950s, Hastings Tribune from 1956 to 1983, and was an office manager for Roger Still until 1994 when she retired. After her retirement, she volunteered at Good Samaritan Village and was also a caregiver for her brothers, Donald and Robert Placke, and niece, Sandra Placke. She was a member of First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Eagles Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, past member of VFW Cooties, American Legion Auxiliary, and craft and card clubs.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Eugene Mertens; daughter, Debra Boom; step-granddaughter, Megan Skalka; and two brothers.  

SURVIVORS:

Son & Spouse:                                   
    David & Kim Boom – Severance, CO

Daughter:                                           
    Kelly Boom – Hastings, NE

Step-Daughters & Spouses:               
    Jan & Ken Pavelka – Glenvil, NE

    Linda & Lyle Skalka – Deweese, NE

    Sally & Jeff Jergensen – Colorado Springs, CO

Step-Son:                                           
    John Mertens – West Plains, MO

Grandson & Spouse:                          
    Scott & Angie Boom

Step-Grandchildren & Spouses:        
    Mike & Betsy Pavelka – Crete, NE

    Curt & Kristen Pavelka – Kearney, NE

    Kristin & T.J. Carmichael – Hickman, NE

    Matt & Brandy Skalka – Hastings, NE

    Amanda Skalka – Omaha, NE

    Justin & Maddie Jergensen – Colorado Springs, CO

    Sean & Emily Jergensen – Colorado Springs, CO

Step-Great-Grandchildren:               
    8

Many Nieces, Nephews, and other extended family