Eleanor J. "Ellie" Applebee

A Funeral Service for Eleanor J. "Ellie" Applebee will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Republican City United Methodist Church in Republican City, Nebraska, with Pastor Seong Lee officiating.

An interment will be held before the service at 10:00 a.m. at the Naponee Cemetery in Naponee, Nebraska.

Eleanor Josephine Applebee, 88 years of age, of Republican City, passed away on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society – Colonial Villa in Alma, Nebraska.  Ellie was born on June 3, 1936, in rural Hebron, Nebraska, the second of five children born to Joseph and Elizabeth Ann "Betty" (Korte) Hergott.  In 1942, the family moved to Orleans, Nebraska where they farmed and operated a dairy farm. She attended 8 years of school in rural District 25, a one-room schoolhouse southwest of Orleans, and then attended Orleans High School, graduating with the class of 1954. She then pursued higher education for one year at Kearney State Teachers College. She then moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she was employed by the American Medical Association.

On October 4, 1955, Ellie was united in marriage to Elmer "Vachel" Applebee at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Chicago, Illinois.  They were blessed with four children:  Stephen, Carolyn, James, and William.  They made their first home in Key West, Florida, while Vachel was in the U.S. Navy.  Following his honorable discharge, the family returned to Naponee, Nebraska for a short time before moving to Huntington Beach, California. Ellie helped with the family-owned construction business, enjoyed raising their four children, volunteered in the school they attended at St. Bonaventure Catholic School.

In 1980, Vachel and Ellie sold their construction business and bought property in Nebraska. They eventually moved back to Republican City, where they lived while farming and raising cattle in the Naponee area. Many enjoyable summers there were spent with their children and grandchildren coming to visit for their summer vacations and hunting trips in the fall. After retiring from farming, they spent their winters in California with their family.

Ellie was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church in Republican City. She enjoyed reading, cooking, and sewing. She loved family holidays and gatherings and traveling to spend time with her loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 66 years, Vachel Applebee; her daughter, Carolyn Rodgers; two sisters: Rose Ann Phillips; and Norma Carson; one brother, Frank Hergott; and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Ellie leaves to celebrate her life; three sons: Steve and his wife, Melia of Temecula, California; Jim and his wife, Rona of Bothell, Washington; and Bill and his wife, Sonya of Huntington Beach; eight grandchildren: Andy; Michelle; Andrea; Lorilee; Melissa; Brittany; Kyra; and Ryan; eight great-grandchildren; her sister, Carolyn Barnhart and husband, Terry of San Jose, California; along with many nieces, nephews; other relatives, and many friends.

There will be no visitation or viewing. The family is honoring her wish for a closed casket.

A memorial has been established in Ellie's honor and kindly suggested to:  "V Foundation for Cancer Research"; www.v.org

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

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.