Joanne N. Raterman

Joanne Raterman was born September 22, 1959, the youngest of four daughters born to Norman and Ann Hilgemyer.Joanne was raised in Belleville, Illinois attending Belle Valley Grade School and graduating from Belleville Township High School East.She went on to get a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 1981. Joanne happily welcomed two sons: Sean Stancliff in 1985 from her first marriage and Jacob Raterman in 1990 from her second marriage. In 2004, Joanne moved to Omaha, Nebraska for her job with the Union Pacific Railroad where she served as a Supervisor Accounting Clerk in Revenue Accounting. She enjoyed her work. She retired after 31 years in June 2020. Joanne was very active in her church.In Omaha, she taught Kindergarten (as she did while in High School) and sang in the choir for years at Living Faith United Methodist Church. She presented at Walk to Emmaus and prepared another presentation before COVID postponed it. Joanne said once that she wished “she had done something with her life.” But she had. She raised two honest, loving and hardworking sons. She took care of her mother in Anne’s last days while pregnant with her second son. She served her church, loved her extended family including friends, gave to charity monetarily and in service and tried to live each day to its fullest knowing she was loved by God despite having cancer for the past ten years. Joanne passed peacefully at home on October 12, 2020. She was 61. Joanne was proceeded in death by her parents Norman (who passed when she was just 17) and Ann (who passed when Joanne was 31).She is survived by two sons Sean Stancliff (Charlee) of St Charles, Missouri; and Jacob Lohrman (Seth) of Omaha, Nebraska; and three sisters Alice Taylor of Belle, Missouri; Helen Peterson (David) of Boliver, Missouri; and Norma Smith (Robert) of Billings, Montana. She is also survived by six nieces, one nephew and their families. Joanne wanted to thank everyone for all they did for her during her illness from providing food, to visits, to well-wishes to memories of joy and laughter. She was rich with people in her life. Funeral Services are to be held at the Living Faith UMC on Thursday, October 15 at 1 pm with visitation from 12 pm - 1 pm. Pastor Sandy Webster presiding. In lieu of flowers, donations can be given in Joanne’s name to Metavivor (Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness) Research and Support Inc., 1783 Forest Dr., #184, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.