Obituary of Joan Rhule

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. No merit of my own I claim, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. Joan Marie Rhule was reunited with all the saints and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Heaven, Thursday August 22, 2013 while in the gracious care of Lincoln Community Home Health and Hospice. Joan was born on May 15, 1935 to the loving parents of August and Theresa (Schifferns) Lukow and became an heir to the kingdom of Heaven by the washing of water and the word in the receiving of the miracle of Holy Baptism in June of the same year. Joan was instructed and confessed her faith in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in April, 1949 where she became a confirmed and communicant member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Arriba, Colorado and where she continued to receive God's Holy Word, confessed her sins and partook of Jesus' true body and blood in the Lord's Supper until her passing. On July 7, 1957 Joan was united in marriage to Thomas Rhule at Immanuel Lutheran Church and celebrated the gift of Holy matrimony for 56 years. Joan is survived by her husband Tom; son Mark, daughter in-law Sherri, granddaughter Ashlyn; son Rex, daughter in-law Lorre, granddaughters Cassaundra and Amanda; brothers Curtis and James as well as many nieces and nephews. Joan is preceded in death by her parents, August and Theresa as well as brothers, Gale and Don and sister Viola Eberle. "I am the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Just as the Father knows me and I know my Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life, only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down and the authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father" John 10:14-15, 17-18.