Elaine Woythaler

Funeral Services for Elaine Woythaler will be held on Friday, May 12, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Dr. Cathi Braasch STS, officiating. Burial will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Doris Elaine Woythaler, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died on May 6, 2017 at the age of 91 years in Lincoln, Nebraska. Elaine was born on January 25, 1926, the first born daughter of Joseph and Wilhemina (Lindquist) Hanson. She was born and raised on the family farm northeast of Holdrege. The farm was homesteaded by her grandfather, Charles A. Hanson in 1889. She received her education in a rural school and went on to attend Holdrege High School, graduating in 1942 at the age of 16. Elaine then attended Luther College in Wahoo, receiving her teaching certificate. She then returned to Holdrege and taught in a rural school and in the summer months during the war, she lived in Grand Island and worked in an ordinance plant. It was at this time that she met her future husband, Myron David Woythaler, a native New Yorker, stationed in Grand Island. Myron and Elaine were married on the farm on July 19, 1946. After honeymooning at Niagra Falls, they made their home in upper New York State. A year later, they moved to Holdrege, where they met their lifelong friends, Milt and Irene Barker.

Myron and Elaine were blessed with two children, Leonard "Lenny" and Kristie. Elaine did some substitute teaching during this time, but spent most of her time taking care of her home and family. She was involved in her children's lives, serving as a Camp Fire Leader and Boy Scout Leader. She supported her children in all of their school events and was a great support for Myron in all of his postal and community endeavors. Elaine returned to college, receiving her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Kearney State College in 1966. She thoroughly enjoyed teaching for 28 years; the first couple of years at R-5, north of Holdrege and the rest of her career at Washington Elementary in Holdrege. She was a passionate and caring teacher, loved her first graders and was a strong advocate for education.

Elaine was an active, lifelong member of Bethel Lutheran Church, teaching children and adult classes, participating in circles, bible studies and couples club. She was also a member of the Thimble Needle Club and the Delta Kappa Gamma women's honorary. She enjoyed all kinds of dancing and in their younger years, she and Myron belonged to a square dancing club. They supported Husker football and enjoyed attending games. They loved spending time at their cabin at Harlan Country Reservoir, living there in the summers after retirement. She could be found sitting on her deck, watching the birds, sipping on a Coca-Cola! Elaine was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening and feeding birds, she loved children and animals. In 2011, Elaine moved to Lincoln and enjoyed living closer to her family. She was cared for lovingly by the staff at the Country House Assisted Living in Lincoln.

Besides her parents, Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Myron in 1994; sister, Barbara Aspegren; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Bernice and Eli Post; and special friends, Milt and Irene Barker and Paul Hohenstein.

Left to celebrate her life are her children: Lenny Woythaler and his wife, Barb of Newton, Iowa and Kristie Snyder and her husband, Dan of Lincoln; four grandchildren: Carly Runestad and her husband, Kurt of Lincoln, Ryan Woythaler and his wife, Kim of Baxter, Iowa, Nick Snyder and his wife, Lindsey of Papillion, Nebraska, and Kaley Munter and her husband, Robb of Lincoln; great-grandchildren: Avery and Owen Runestad, Adela Snyder and John and Hank Munter and anticipated baby; brother-in-law, Burnell Aspegren of Harvard, Nebraska; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends including special friends: God-Daughter, Susie Nation, Dave Barker and Jill Sutton.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Elaine's honor and kindly suggested to the Holdrege Public Schools Education Foundation or to Bethel Lutheran Church.

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

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of arrangements.