Juanita Elaine (Fisher) Newcomb - Obituary

Juanita Elaine (Fisher) Newcomb of Sidney and longtime Chappell resident, passed away October 27, 2018 at the Sidney Care and Rehabilitation Center in Sidney. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, November 3rd at 11:00 in the Chappell Cemetery in Chappell, NE. No formal viewing or visitation will be held. Memorial contributions may be made in Juanita's name to the donor's choice. You may view Juanita's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Juanita's care and funeral arrangements. Juanita Elaine (Fisher) Newcomb was born March 9, 1924 in Lexington, NE to Melvin and Goldie (Yentis) Fischer. Growing up on a farm near Lexington, she graduated from high school at 13. Like those of her generation, she had faced down the Dust Bowl, the great Depression and a world war before she and Dad married and turned to build a new life in Chappell.  

Mom refused to criticize people, a trait that did not come naturally to me.  She had taught me to read a couple years before she enrolled me in school and I recall criticizing a classmate who I'd just met on my first day at Kindergarten.  He didn't know how to read.  She stopped washing the dishes and turned slowly, staring.

Me: "What?

Mom: "Son, I'm surprised you would take the time from improving yourself to criticize someone."

Me:  "Huh?"

Mom:  "Help people.  Don't criticize them."

Be kind to people.

With that, she asked that I increase my reading speed to match hers. That was Mom."

Juanita is survived by (3) sons and a small clan.

Juanita was preceded in death by her husband: Ward, her parents and numerous extended family members.