Journey Jane Pritchard came racing into the world on February 21, 2007, with her grandparents by her mother's side. She lived her whole life in Columbus, Nebraska. Journey passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from Epilepsy complications on November 23, 2025. She was 18 years old.

When Journey was two she came to live with her grandparents, who loved her and raised her as their own child. Shortly after her 18th birthday, Journey chose to be fully adopted by them. She attended Emerson Elementary, was part of the inaugural class of 5th grade at Columbus Middle School, and graduated midterm as part of the Columbus High class of 2025.

Journey loved music, especially her years playing trumpet with the Columbus Discoverers Bands. She performed in many marching competitions with the band, including the halftime of the 2024 Reliaquest Bowl in Florida. It was rare to find her without at least one air pod in, and her music tastes were wide ranging, from country to alt rock to kid songs all on the same playlist. While not a super sporty girl, Journey played CYSA softball from t-ball through high school, she was a great 3rd baseman and and an even better teammate. She watched her shows on repeat, especially movies Coco and Titanic and series Gilmore Girls and Vampire Diaries. Never a big dress up girl, Journey was most comfortable in her pajama pants and hoodie and her favorite Lightning McQueen Crocs.

Journey never met a brownie she didn't devour, especially when her Grandpa Pete made them. She loved her Aunt Cheryl's spinach dip so much she requested it as a birthday gift, but wouldn't touch it if anyone else made it. She adored the family traditions for what she called the "Jesus holidays", Christmas and Easter, with homemade sticky buns for breakfast and cavatellis for dinner. She looked forward to the "cavatelli factory", making the noodles together with the whole family each year.

Journey loved children, and had the privilege of spending her work days with her Goddaughter, whom she affectionately called "My Baby", and all her kids at Kid's Express Child Care Center, where she worked since she was 16. She moved up from part time helper to full time lead teacher for the infant and toddler class after she turned 18, but she saw the best in every kid no matter if they were sweet babies or spicy preteens. Her little brothers will tell you, she was the BEST big sister. She loved each of them for who they are, and was always supportive of them. She was especially close with her brother Zeb, she was the one person he trusted most in the world and they were constantly playfully teasing each other.

Her other love was her 4-H Dairy cows, especially her Ayrshire cow Rory. She enjoyed being on the farm, teaching the younger 4-H kids how to care for and show their calves, even if it was something as mundane as mixing feed. She took great pride in earning Grand Champion Dairy Showman at the fair numerous years, and earning the Champion Rosette for her record book two years in a row. She was excited to show Rory and her new calf Yogurt for her last year of 4-H next summer.

Journey loved to travel, and was able to visit Canada, Czech Republic, Austria, and many U.S. states in her short life. Epilepsy didn't stop her from big adventures, she ziplined in Colorado and Canada, hiked in Montana and Washington, airboated through Florida swamps, chose all the wildest carnival rides, and loved discovering new beautiful places and dusty ghost towns alike. As an organ and tissue donor, Journey will continue to journey through the world by helping others live fuller lives through her final gift.

Journey leaves behind so many people she loved, who loved her so very much:
Grandparents/adoptive parents – Pete and Heather Buttaro
Mother- Jazz Buttaro
Father- Joseph Pritchard
Brothers- Zeb Buttaro, David Myers, Jace Pritchard
Sister- Brealyn Tworek
Bruncles- Riley Buttaro and Mason Buttaro
Grandmother- Brenda Burke
Great Grandparents- Karen and Jack Ranta, and Mayme Klein
Aunts and Uncles- Tina and Robb Puffenburger, Rieta and Chris Mikkelsen, Sarah Mielke, Becky and Jim McGraw, Justin and Tiffany Pritchard, Jesse and Nicole Pritchard, Jake and Grace Burke, Cheryl Mueller, Paul Mueller, and Sammie and Harley Clark
Best Friend- Natalie Robak
Boyfriend- Brad Gephart
Goddaughter and niece Gracie, nephew Dalton, and niece Bailey
Many cousins, relatives, and friends
Her 4-H Dairy Kids club family, and her many daycare kids

Guiding her way to the next life:
Grandfather James Pritchard
Great Grandparents David Mielke, Peter and Emily Buttaro, Melvin Klein, and Lorine Mueller

While she loved flowers, please choose instead to make a donation to the Nebraska Epilepsy Foundation, Platte County 4-H UNL Extension, or the Columbus Discoverers Band Boosters.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, on Saturday, December 6, at St. Luke's United Church of Christ, with Rev. Adam Lassen officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, December 4, from 5:00 PM - 7:00, at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue Saturday, December 6, from 9:30 AM until service time, at the church. Interment will be in Columbus Cemetery. The memorial service will be broadcast live on the St. Luke's UCC website https://www.saintlukescolumbus.org/