Joan M. Maxon, 76, of Grand Island died Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at CHI Health St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, NE. Mass of Christian burial will be Monday, May 4, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The Revs. James Beran and Jack R. Rademacher will concelebrate. Inurnment will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, May 3, 2026 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Curran Funeral Chapel with a vigil service at 6 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the family with designation at a later date. Condolences may be given at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under Joan’s obituary. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.

 Mrs. Maxon was born May 12, 1949, in Loup City to Leonard and Irene (Waskowiak) Rademacher. 

Survivors of the immediate family include a son and daughter-in-law, Luke T. and Katie Maxon of Aurora, Ill.; two daughters, Sara R. Dugan of Wichita, Kan., and Laura J. Maxon of Grand Island, NE; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Fr. Jack Rademacher of Kearney, NE and Mike and Julie Rademacher of Loup City, NE; and one sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Fred Allison of Kearney, NE.

Additional survivors include nine grandchildren, Maya, Caroline, Neoma, Evan, Noah, Andrew, Karen, Michael, and Johnny, and one great-grandchild, Ava. 

Joan grew up on a farm near Loup City, NE with her twin sister and two brothers. She graduated from Loup City High School in 1967 and moved to Kearney, NE, where she worked in human resources at J.A. Baldwin Manufacturing Company. On May 13, 1972, she married Tom Maxon in Kearney. They soon moved to Grand Island, NE, where she provided in-home childcare for a number of years, before later working at Skagway and then at St. Francis until her retirement.

She was an avid reader, rarely without her Kindle in hand. She also enjoyed crocheting, creating many blankets and other accessories for her family to enjoy. Perhaps her greatest joy was time she was able to spend with her grandchildren and great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, and her parents.