Mass of Christian Burial for Jeanine "J" Cockerill

Jeanine "J" Cockerill, 60 of Omaha, NE, passed away Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 17, 2015 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Albion, NE with Rev. Stan Schmit officiating. Inurnment will follow on Thursday after noon at St. Michael's Cemetery at Spalding, NE. Visitation will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church, with a 7:30 p.m. wake service.

Memorials are suggested to the Boone County Health Center Foundation.

Jeanine Marie Cockerill, daughter of Robert J. and JoAnne M. (Brumbach) Besch, was born June 30, 1955 at Oak Park, IL. She attended school at Oak Park River Forest High School in Oak Park, IL, graduating in 1973. She moved to Manhattan, KS where she studied agriculture journalism and education at Kansas State University, graduating in 1977 with her teaching certificate.

J married Richard L. Cockerill on June 11, 1977 at Oak Park, IL. They lived in Manhattan, KS for three years before moving to Central City, NE. In 1985, they made their home in Albion, NE where J worked as a substitute school teacher and raised their children: Adam, Quinn and Courtney. She volunteered with the Albion Arts Council for many years, along with being the public relations and grant coordinator at the Boone County Health Center for more than 15 years.

J served on boards of the Boone County Fitness Center, the Albion Arts Council, the Boone County Hospital Guild and the Advisory Board for the Boone Central Chapter of Teammates. She served on the steering committee which hosted Chautauqua 2006 in Boone County and chairwoman of the steering committee for the Downtown Albion Park Development. She worked with the Nebraska Arts Council as a peer reviewer for special grants and was an Ak-Sar-Ben scholarship reader. With her husband, she served as chairmen of the Boone Central Booster Club.

In 2012, J and Rick moved to Omaha, NE.

J was a strong, intelligent and gifted wife, mother, daughter and grandmother. She was always reading and learning. She enjoyed beautiful flower gardens, old architecture, interior design and traveling, but most of all, her family, especially her grandchildren.

J is survived by her husband Richard Cockerill of Omaha, NE; three children: Adam (Kristina) Cockerill of Omaha, NE; Quinn (Patrick) Gerhart of Newman Grove, NE; Courtney Cockerill of Omaha, NE; two grandchildren: J. Ethan and Bryce Ella Cockerill of Omaha, NE; her mother JoAnne Besch of Tucson, AZ; along with other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father Robert Besch and in-laws, Harry and Patricia Cockerill.