Obituaries

Maxine Louise Workman, 87, of Humboldt was born March 7, 1931 during a blizzard on the family farm near Alma, Nebraska to Herman Bernhard Wiemers, Jr. and Hermina Johanna (Gossman) Wiemers. Her parents moved to Humboldt in 1948, but Maxine stayed behind in Alma and lived with her grandmother Margaret Caspers so that she could finish high school there and graduate with the class of 1948. She attended Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska from 1948-1950, where she majored in nursing. She attended Immanuel Hospital School of Nursing in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated in 1953 as a Registered Nurse. After graduation, Maxine moved to Humboldt and went to work for Dr. Harlan Heim at the Humboldt Hospital. She married Robert E. Workman on June 6, 1954 at the United Methodist Church in Humboldt. They were married for an amazing 62 years until Bob’s death in 2016.

ALBERT FAESSER, 96 of Ogallala, passed away Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Perkins County Community Hospital in Grant.

Albert was born May 3, 1922, to Johann Faesser and Erna Blum, in Narkevich, Odessa.

Albert served in the German army in the Russian front during WWII. He learned the cabinet maker’s trade in Germany after World War II. On December 26, 1945 he became married to Katharina Schepp. They spent their early years in Rottenberg/Laaber, Germany. Sons, Victor and Arthur were born there. In March of 1952 they immigrated to the United States and settled in Ogallala, Nebraska, where Albert and Katie spent their entire lives. A third son, Albert John, was born in the U.S.

Marlene Sue Penkava was born in Humboldt, Nebraska on October 22, 1949 to Lester and Agnes Penkava, one of three girls born into the family. After a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer, the angels came to take her Home on November 17, 2018.

Marlene grew up in Humboldt and attended kindergarten through high school there, graduating with the class of 1968. From there, she went to Omaha and attended Commercial Extension School of Commerce. Marlene lived in Omaha for the rest of her life.

Beverly J. Stake 88 of Burchard, Nebraska passed away on November 28, 2018, in Pawnee City.  She was born on October15, 1930, at the Beatrice Mennonite Hospital to the late Jerry and Julia (Novotny) Kozak.  She attended Virginia School until 1944 and graduated from Filley High School in 1948.  After graduating, she attended St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in Lincoln and was capped as a nurse.  She then graduated from Draughn’s Business College in Lubbock, Texas in 1951.  She was united in marriage to Albert L. Stake at the Christian Church in Virginia, on June 5, 1953, and moved to a farm east of Burchard. To this union three children were born Bradley, Susan and Shawn.  Beverly was a caring and active member of the community.  She belonged to the United Methodist Church, the Worthwhile Extension Club and was 60 - year member of the Order of the Eastern Star.  She worked at the Pawnee County Clerk Office, the Pawnee Manor, and for 12 years at Earl May in Beatrice.

Ena Lois Davis (nee Gunzenhauser) departed her earthly tent for her heavenly mansion on November 19, 2018, peacefully at home with her son Charles by her side, at 93 years following a long struggle against heart disease and dementia.

Ena was preceded in death by her younger son Matthew, her exhusband David, and survived by her older son Charles and her grandchildren Mickie and Jamie (by Matthew and his wife Karen). She was buried on November 20, 2018 in the Dry Branch Pioneer Cemetery (in Richardson Co. Nebraska) alongside her son, parents and grandparents. In attendance were friends, relatives, and church family.

Ena was born an only-child to Charles Edwin and Hilda Selma Gunzenhauser (nee Lionberger) of rural Table Rock on June 21, 1925. She attended the Table Rock Church of Christ in her later years, and was born again by faith in Jesus Christ, March 27, 2016.

On Monday morning, November 5th, 2018, Mary Jean Shinn passed away from this life into the welcoming arms of Jesus Christ. Mary Jean Shinn of Seneca, Kansas died peacefully at the Life Care Center in Seneca, Kansas at the age of 89 years. Mary Jean was born February 17th, 1929 at Pawnee Hospital. She was the second child, first daughter born to Joseph and Mary Weis-Blecha of Burchard, Nebraska whom she lovingly called Daddy and Mama. She attended the Violet country school as a young girl, going to school by buckboard pulled by mules. She enjoyed growing up on the farm, riding her horse, playing with jacks and her china doll and playing piano. She recalled eating a lot of chocolate cake and homemade bread as a child during the Great Depression because it was inexpensive to make and money was tight. After completing the 8th grade she stayed home on the family farm to help with the care of her six younger siblings.

Erwin F. Hippen, 82, of Topeka, passed away on Sunday, October 21, 2018. Erwin was born October 1, 1936 in Adams, Nebraska the son of George H. and Rebecca Restina Schmidt Hippen.   He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1954.

Erwin worked for the Kansas Gas Company for 42 years, retiring in 1989. He also worked for the Topeka Capital Journal as paper carrier, and he also umpired youth sports but mainly slow pitch softball in Topeka.  He spent many hours participating in the Senior Olympics, participating in softball, basketball, bowling and archery, earning many medals for his sports accomplishments.

He married Ruth Tritt in June of 1955. She preceded him in death June 5, 1991.  He was also preceded in death by two sons, David Hippen and Scott Hippen.

August 19, 1928 ~ November 8, 2018

February 17, 1929 ~ November 5, 2018

January, 26, 1925 ~ October 24, 2018