Jodee Ann Bolli, of Burwell, Nebraska passed away on Monday, August 17, 2026, with her family by her side at her home in Burwell, Nebraska.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Loup County Event Center in Taylor, Nebraska. J.B. Sikes will officiate. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at the event center. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to a scholarship fund in Jodee’s name and honor. Still Waters Funeral Parlor is assisting with the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at stillwatersfuneralparlor.com
Jodee Ann Bolli passed into the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ August 17, 2026, at her home in Burwell, Nebraska, surrounded by her loving family and friends after a long, hard fought battle with cancer.
Jodee Ann (Coffman) Bolli was born October 11,1967 to Clair Jefferson and Cynthia Ann (Beel) Coffman in Groton, Connecticut on the New London Submarine Base.
Growing up, Jodee attended 13 different schools and as a result she learned to make friends quickly. She often said that skill helped her later in life, especially during her time as Miss Rodeo Nebraska.
As children, Jodee was always her little brother Will and sister Holee’s fierce protector.
Jodee attended school for two years in Hershey, Nebraska. Then in 1982, her mom, Cindy married Hans Johnson and the family moved to the ranch at Tryon. Jodee attended McPherson County High School in Tryon, Nebraska, where she excelled in sports and found encouraging teachers who believed in her abilities and challenged her to hold herself to a higher standard. She graduated from MCHS with the class of 1985.
Hans didn’t have “step kids”. Just like Tom and Lesa; Jodee, Will and Holee were all “his kids”. Hans was a very influential part of Jodee’s life, instilling in her and her siblings a love for the ranch and especially good quarter horses. She became a very talented horsewoman, in great part, due to Hans’ and Cindy’s guidance. Hans also taught Jodee that family wasn’t necessarily about blood. A lesson that she carried with her for the rest of her life.
Jodee attended college at the University of Nebraska Lincoln for two years, studying architecture and interior design. Then in 1987, she was crowned Miss Rodeo Nebraska 1988.
In 1989, Jodee married Mike Burnham. They resided in Burwell, Nebraska. Mike and Jodee “adopted” Will and Pat Svoboda and they were and are “Jodee’s kids”. Over the years, she “adopted” other kids, but Will and Pat will always be “hers”.
Dry Creek Western Wear opened its doors in Burwell in 1993, in part, a product of the time Jodee had spent as Miss Rodeo Nebraska. Here, she used her talents for design and color and her knowledge of clothing, but most importantly, Jodee’s ability to make each person who walked through the door feel like they were the most important person in the world was key to the success of the store.
Jodee had a servant’s heart and gave freely of her time and talents. She helped many young hopeful rodeo queens as well as many other young people advance their horsemanship skills. She was instrumental in the creation of several organizations: The Miss Burwell Rodeo Pageant, The Nebraska 4-D Barrel Racing Association, The NBC Barrel Races, and numerous other organizations.
Sometime in early 2010, “Mr. Bolli” became a frequent customer of Dry Creek. He purchased one roping glove at a time, just to have the opportunity to visit with Jodee, trying to get up the nerve to ask her out on a date. Finally, on October 31st of that year, they had that first date. And the rest, as they say, is history. It was this day they chose to celebrate each year, rather than December 29, 2012, their actual wedding date.
Mr. Bolli and Jodee shared a peaceful and happy life together until September 3, 2024, when life changed. They spent many hours driving to appointments and consultations. But even then, they were able to make beautiful memories, sharing conversations and making good use of the time they shared together.
Jodee had a deep love for her animals, especially her dogs and horses and later her goats. Her little black dog, Lucy, was a constant companion and almost always accompanied Jodee to the store.
Words used by her family and friends to describe Jodee were tenacious, forgiving, kind, thoughtful, always smiling and a wonderful listener. She exemplified the fruits of the spirit described in the Bible in Galatians 5:22-23. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. Above all else, Jodee’s faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ, was the most important part of her life. She attempted to be a reflection of Christ every day to every person she encountered.
She is survived by her loving husband, Mike “Mr. Bolli”; parents, CJ (Joanne) Coffman and Cindy (Jerry) Thompson; in-laws, Raliegh and Jean Bolli; siblings, Tom (Billie) Burch, Lesa (Bob) Ellis, Will (Amy) Coffman, and Holee (Jason) Hanke; children, Pat (Katy) Svoboda, Will Svoboda, Taylor (Kali) Bolli, Traci (Kyle) Rowse, and BJ (Sarah) Wietzki; grandchildren, Brantley, Bowen, Bella and Kali Svoboda, Kason, Charlie and Hutton Svoboda, Tatym and Nolan Bolli, Bo and Amelia Rowse and Aidan, Adella and Avery Wietzki; and numerous other extended family and friends.
Preceding Jodee in death were her grandparents; Dad, Hans Johnson; nephew, Devin Burch; her beloved dog, Lucy and stallion, IM POISON OAK.
