Barbara Joan Wilbern, the daughter of Wayne and Evelyn (Sheets) Collins, was born on Aug. 31, 1942, in Superior, Nebraska. She died Dec. 31, 2023, at the Parkview Care Center at Osborne, Kansas at the age of 81 years, 4 months.

In growing up, Jo attended school in Ohiowa and Superior, graduating from Superior High School. She earned her RN degree from Mary Lanning School of Nursing in Hastings.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Superior, the First Presbyterian Church in Atkinson for most of her married life, then back to First United Methodist Church in Superior.

She was united in marriage to Richard Vernon "Dick" Wilbern on May 18, 1963, at the First United Methodist Church in Superior, Nebraska. This union was blessed with two daughters, Ann and Kim.

Jo resided at Kingswood Court in Superior from April 2022 to November 2023 and the final two months of her life at Parkview Care Center in Osborne, Kansas. During her lifetime, Jo lived in Ohiowa, Hastings, Atkinson, Silver Cliff, Colorado, Omaha and back to Superior.

She was a PEO sisterhood member and a member of the United Methodist Women. Music was a big part of Jo's life, from signing in the high school chorus to choosing songs for the Methodist church services in Superior. She liked to listen to all types of music from worship favorites, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Elton John, Meatloaf and even Guns and Roses. She also enjoyed gardening and tending her flowers. Watching the Nebraska Cornhuskers football, volleyball, basketball and baseball games on TV was a favorite pastime as well. Jo enjoyed keeping in contact with family and friends on Facebook, until the last year of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Evelyn; husband, Dick, on June 8, 2016; and parents-in-law, Vernon and Marie Wilbern.

Survivors include her daughters, Ann Long and husband, Larry, of Downs, Kansas; and Kim Thomsen and husband, Chris, of Midlothian, Virginia; four grandchildren: Maddie, Jack and Logan Thomsen and Caroline Long; sister, Mary Nelson and husband, Duane, of Superior; and brother, William Collins and Adelle of Danville, California; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and a host of friends.

Her funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, from the Megrue-Price Funeral Home in Superior, with Pastors Bonnie Brock and Dorothy Smith officiating.

Music is "The Rose," and "Amazing Grace."

Honorary pallbearers will be Ed Seibert, Rol Everett, Chuck Everett, Larry Long, Chris Thomsen and Joe Trawicki.

Inurnment will be at a later date in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Atkinson, Nebraska.

A memorial has been established and may go in care of the family.

Condolences may be sent to Megrue-Price Funeral Home, 750 N Commercial, Superior, Nebraska 68978 or in care of http://www.pricefuneral homes.com.

Megrue-Price Funeral Home of Superior is in charge of the arrangements.