Ella L. Lemmon

Funeral Services for Ella L. Lemmon will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Murray Jones officiating. Interment will be held at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege following the services.

Ella Louise Lemmon, 93 years of age, of rural Holdrege, passed away on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at her home south of Holdrege. Ella was born on September 8, 1924 on a farm south of Axtell, in Kearney County, Nebraska, the third of four children to Carl G. and Josie (Burgeson) Sherman. In 1928, her parents bought a farm nine miles south of Kearney, Nebraska, which is still in the family today. She grew up with older siblings: Roland and Eva, and younger brother, Carl on the family farm. While growing up, her parents bought two player pianos, so that Ella and Eva could learn to play the piano. They became accomplished piano players, and in their teenage years would play for many church, and social occasions. At one point in their lives, they even had their own radio show, and would feature "In The Mood" with dueling pianos. They continued playing the piano their entire lives.

Ella graduated from Kearney High School with the class of 1942. During this time, Ella was employed at the Army Air Base in Kearney. After high school, she secured a position at the employment office in Lexington, Nebraska. This is where she would meet her future husband, when he came into the office in search of a job after being Honorably Discharged from the United States Navy at the conclusion of WWII. Ella not only found him employment, but they began dating. On June 18, 1947, she was united in marriage to Lynn M. Lemmon at the Keene Evangelical Free Church, and to this union two sons were born: Jerry Lynn and Randy. After a honeymoon to Estes Park, Colorado, they spent the first year of their marriage in Gothenburg, Nebraska. In 1948, after the birth of their first son, Jerry, the couple moved to the farm south of Holdrege, where Ella continued to reside the rest of her life.

Ella was employed by the Soil Conservation Service until her retirement after 26 years of service. Throughout the years, she also continued to further her education, earning her Associate of Arts degree in Art in 1977; her Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in 1981; and then a Masters of Arts degree in Education in 1983 from Kearney State College. She realized one of her lifetime dreams of teaching art from 1989 until 1992. She was justifiably proud of the fact that she raised two sons, and completed her education to enable her to fulfill her passion of teaching art as a career.

Ella was also a devoted farmwife for many years. She drove truck during harvest, raised bucket calves, assisted with the mowing, and prepared many meals on short notice, whenever Lynn and the crew took a break from the farm.

Ella also enjoyed raising a garden for many years, canned meat and tomatoes, and would cook pheasants and ducks whenever her sons brought in wild game to eat. She was also unusually adept at spotting antique cars such as Hudsons, Packards, and Model A Fords; which stemmed from Jerry and Randy liking antique cars.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lynn; who passed away at the age of 89, on their 68th Wedding Anniversary in 2015. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Jerry in August 1981, as the result of a motorcycle accident; her sister, Eva; brother, Carl; brothers-in-law: Dale Lemmon and Bob Lemmon; sister-in-law, Lois Piester; and two nephews: Thomas Piester, and Brad Lemmon.

Ella leaves to celebrate her life; her son, Randy Lemmon of Lincoln; two granddaughters: Christi Lucia and family of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and Amanda Estrada and family of North Pole, Alaska; her brother, Roland Sherman of Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege; brother-in-law, George Piester of Minden; nephews: Ron Jack and Kevin Jack, both of Eustis, Nebraska; Rick Lemmon of Cozad, Nebraska; David Piester of Lincoln; and Kent Piester of Houston, Texas; nieces: Linda (Jack) Taylor; and Carol Gaspar both of Kansas City; great-nephews: Michael Jack of Eustis; and Kevin Lemmon of Cozad; great-nieces: Karen Jack of Eustis; and Michelle of Texas; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 16, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. with the family greeting at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Ella's honor, and kindly suggested to the family for later designation.

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 the arrangements.