Joe Vance

Joe Lyle Vance was born August 30, 1919 to Edgar (Joe) Wilson and Edith May Howard Vance in Pawnee City, Nebraska, where he grew up and worked on the family farm and dairy. Joe Lyle enlisted for one year of service in the Nebraska National Guard on December 19, 1940. On December 23, 1940 the Guard was mobilized into federal service; and on December 7, 1941, the one year was extended to five years of federal service. Joe was assigned to Company I of the 134th infantry of the 35th Infantry Division. While Joe was on leave in Washington D.C. before being deployed, he met Edna Earl Guest. She was from Deport, Texas and was working in Washington D.C. for the FBI and later for the British Embassy. They corresponded for the next few years while Joe served overseas. Joe served in the European theater during World War II and was at Land's End, England on June 6, 1944. He could hear the sound of fighting taking place on Omaha Beach, and he would say the soldiers had no idea what was happening across the Channel until they landed on Omaha Beach on July 5, 1944. The men who survived the landing on Omaha Beach quickly found themselves in the middle of the battle at St. Lo just south of the landing beach. Following the liberation of St Lo, they were led "in a hurry" across France by General Patton. Joe was in Nancy, Metz France, Luxemburg, Holland and then in the Battle of the Bulge. The Division then went on to Germany as far as the Elbe River where they waited for the Russians to take Berlin. Joe always said, "I was honored to serve my country." Joe was awarded the Bronze Star and five battle stars for his wartime service. After being discharged from the Army on October 5, 1945, he and Edna Earl Guest married in Maryland on October 12, 1945. They had three daughters and a son. The family moved from Lincoln, Nebraska to Albuquerque in 1956, where Joe began work for American Car and Foundry (ACF). Edna died from complications of cancer in 1960. He married Winnifred K. Herrick November 16, 1962, at Central Methodist Church. Joe retired from the General Electric Aircraft Engine Group in Albuquerque in 1981. Joe was a member of Central United Methodist church where he served on committees, and bowled with the church's bowling team for several years. After their retirement, Joe and Winnie enjoyed fifteen years of motor homing in their RVs. They traveled all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. He and Winnie also delivered for Meals on Wheels for a number of years. Joe died from cancer in Rio Rancho, New Mexico on October 7, 2012 at the age of 93. In addition to those mentioned, he was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Howard; his sister, Mildred Gartner; his son, Kenneth; his son-in-law, Wes Wambold; and in 2011 his wife of 48 years, Winnie. He is survived by daughters, Linda Herrick Wambold of Arvada, Colorado, Betty Jo Nye and her husband, Kyle, Carol Jean Glover, all of Albuquerque and Patty Vance Lueck and her husband, Stan, of Farmington, New Mexico; eight grandchildren, Valerie Nye and her husband, Joel Yelich, of Santa Fe; Troy Russell and his wife, Michele, Julie Hatfield and husband, Pat, Todd Russell and wife, Karin, all of Arvada, Colorado, Trent Russell and his wife, Margarita, of Littleton, Colorado, Cari Apodaca, Brenda Thrasher and her husband, Stephen, and Laura Wick all of Albuquerque; twelve great-grandchildren, Rudy and Kenneth Apodaca, Ashley Hatfield, Tyler Russell, Stephanie and Nicole Russell, Morgan, Brooke and Levi Russell, Emerson Nye Thrasher, Alexandria and Brianna Wick; and many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to express special appreciation to all of the staff at Sandia Springs and Vista Care Hospice for their loving care and support. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, November 17, 2012, 2:00 p.m., at Central United Methodist Church, at 201 University NE. If desired, in lieu of flowers, it is suggested that a memorial gift to Central United Methodist Church for the Permanent Endowment for Operations Fund or the Pawnee City Public Library Foundation, P.O. Box 311, Pawnee City, NE 68420 might be made. Cremains are interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Please visit our online guest book for Joe at Golf Course Rd NW505-897-0300