Bernard F Korte

Mass of Christian Burial Service for Bernard F. Korte will be conducted from St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans, Nebraska on Monday, July 7, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. with Father Harlan Waskowiak, officiating. Interment will be in the Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery at Orleans.

Bernard Frank Korte, 90 years of age, of Alma, Nebraska (formerly of Orleans, Nebraska) passed away on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at the Harlan County Health Systems in Alma. Bernard was born January 30, 1918 on the family farm west of Orleans in Harlan County, Nebraska, the seventh of fourteen children born to Herman William and Anna Marie (Knobbe) Korte. He received his education at St. Mary's Catholic School in Orleans.

Following his education he was united in marriage to Eleanor Irene Kresser on December 27, 1939 at St. Mary's Catholic Church and to this union nine children were born: Pat, Betty, Bob, Gary, Kathy, Alan, Dwayne, David and Barb. The couple made their home in Waterloo, Iowa for a short period of time before returning to Orleans to the Korte Homestead west of Orleans. Bernard ran the family operated Grade A dairy farm until his retirement in 1973. Following retirement the couple moved into Orleans, where Bernard was employed by the Alfalfa Mill and later worked as custodian for the Orleans Public School. Upon retirement in 1980 the annual staff dedicated the school annual in honor of Bernard's service. In April of 2003 the couple made their home at the Colonial Villa in Alma. On December 23, 2003 he was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor.

Bernard was a devoted member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans where he was active in many capacities including: ushering and enjoyed his membership of the Knights of Columbus. He also enjoyed the friendship bonds formed being a member of the Orleans Lions Club.

He leaves to mourn his passing seven children: Pat Miller of Lincoln, Betty Eyre and her husband, Dave of Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia, Kathy Platt and her husband, Dennis of Bastrop, Texas, Alan Korte and his wife, Diane of Watkins, Minnesota, Dwayne Korte and his wife, Bert of Fullerton, Nebraska, David Korte and his wife, Deb of McCook, Nebraska, and Barb Thompson of Holdrege; special daughters-in-law: Marsha Korte of Oxford, Nebraska and Jenny Korte of Hastings, Nebraska; 19 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; three sisters: Sister Antonilla Korte of O'Fallon, Missouri, Mary Menke and her husband, Jim and Anna "Dolly" Menke and her husband, Arnold all of Fort Madison, Iowa; two brothers: Ernest Korte of California and Ray Korte and his wife, Pauline of Ft. Myers, Florida; sisters-in-law: Peggy Korte of Caldwell, Idaho and Mary Lennemann of Alma; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides his wife and parents, Bernard was preceded in death by his two sons: Bob and Gary Korte; two grandchildren: Dorothy Korte and Jeffery Korte; one great-grandson, Dillon Schmale; son-in-law, George Miller; four sisters: Betty Hergott and her husband, Francis, Clara Wiedel and her husband, Albert, Margaret Hardin and her husband, Leonard, Bertha Robinson and her husband, Wayne; two brothers: Walter and August Korte and a brother and sister in infancy. In addition, he was also preceded in death by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Johnny and Mary Kresser, Art Lennemann, Anna and Albert Mergen, Agnes and Al Schmidt, Evelyn and George Dobberstein, Frankie and Irma Kresser, Rose and Fritz Frost and Larry and Mildred Kresser.

Bernard will lie in state at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans on Sunday, July 6, 2008 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and prior to the Mass on Monday. A Wake Service will be held on Sunday, evening at 7:00 p.m. at the church.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Mitchell Funeral Home in Orleans is in charge of the arrangements.