Obituary: Josephine Biba

Obituary

Josephine Biba, longtime resident of Exeter, Nebraska, passed away on Saturday, January 16 at the Exeter Care Center. She was 102 years old. She will be fondly remembered for her quick wit and humor, and her love of card-playing. She was undoubtedly the most experienced bridge player in all of Exeter.

Josephine Kyne was born in Fairfield, Nebraska, on February 27, 1907 and attended the Fairfield public schools. Upon graduation from high school, she attended the Hastings Business College. She then returned home to work in the Fairfield banks and, in 1930, the Wallace National Bank in Exeter. She met Otto Biba there and they were married in 1936. She lived in Exeter for the remainder of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Rena (Palmer) Kyne, her husband Otto V. Biba, and her siblings Arthur E. Kyne, Gladys K. (Kyne) Traudt, and Jack Kyne.

She is survived by her great nephew and foster son, Jack L. Noragon and his wife Patricia (Handwerk) Noragon, of Worthington, Ohio, and their children, Michele (Noragon) Holman (David) of California and Melinda (Noragon) Duvall of Ohio, and grandchild Berkley Ann Holman. Other surviving family members include her sister-in-law, Helen (Schleipt) Kyne of Arizona; her nephews Ronald H. Traudt (Loretta) of Ohio and Steve Kyne (Cindy) of California; and her nieces Karen (Kyne) Bartell (Jack) of Arizona and Janice (Kyne) Wetzel (Ralph) of California. She is also survived by numerous great and great-great nephews and nieces.

Funeral services were held at the Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter on Saturday, January 23 at 11 a.m. with Pastors Tim & Ginny Adams officiating. Shirley Milton accompanied Jayne Petersen who sang “The Lord’s Prayer and “How Great Thou Art.” Casket bearers were Tom Manning, Dick Manning, J.J. Dinneen, Ron Ruhl, Bob Dumpert and Gail Heffelfinger. Interment was in the Exeter Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to the First Congregational Church in Exeter.

The family wishes to thank the exceptional staff at the Exeter Care Center who daily demonstrated the power and beauty of loving kindness.