Elma Jean Waggoner

A memorial service for Elma Jean Waggoner will be held on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Alma United Methodist Church in Alma, Nebraska with Pastor Seong Lee officiating. Following the service, an inurnment will be held at the Republican City Cemetery, Republican City, Nebraska.

Elma Jean (Dow) Waggoner departed this life peacefully at the age of 91 on May 10, 2023 under the tender care of the staff at the Good Samaritan Colonial Villa and Brookstone Hospice of Alma, Nebraska.

Elma Jean was born January 14, 1932 to Glen Dow and Lois (Mathes) Dow on the family farm less than a mile from where the Alma City Park currently exists, where her father operated Dow's Dairy. She had three brothers, John Elden, Gerald Alvin "Jerry," and Duane Lee "Dewey," who have all predeceased her.

She attended school in Alma and graduated in 1949. Elma Jean took piano lessons from ages 7 through 14. She was a member of the Christian Church in Alma where she sang in the choir, was baptized, and taught Sunday school through her high school years. Following graduation, she worked as a secretary to the Harlan County Judge and the Alma City Clerk.

During the summer of 1948, she met Clarence Rolland "Pode" Waggoner. Their first date was attending a dance at Clinks Park at the east end of Main Street in Alma. They were engaged at Christmas of 1949 and married on September 10, 1950. They were blessed with four children: Julia, Jeanne, Paul, and David.

She later joined the United Methodist Church in Republican City and contributed her musical talents by playing the organ for over 40 years. She also played for countless weddings and funerals. Music was a big part of Elma Jean's life. It was common to walk into her and Pode's house and hear her playing the organ or Frank Sinatra playing on the record player.

Elma Jean sewed much of her own clothing and made dresses for her daughters for many years. She crocheted, knitted, made drapes, doll clothes, and even made a ski outfit using down feathers (what a mess that was!). She also did a lot of cooking for not just her family, but for the hired men, and anyone who just happened to show up around mealtime. She hosted most family dinners over the years and always baked the best Parker House rolls you would ever taste – you could never eat just one and Elma Jean would make certain of that! She made birthday cakes, taught her grandkids to paint, and usually played a tune or two on the organ for entertainment. She helped Pode with farming, irrigating, hauling hay, and painted the house many times over the years. Elma Jean and Pode took great pride in grooming and landscaping their farmstead.

In 1980, she took up painting in oils and acrylics, learning from artists on television and books, and mostly, through trial and error. She sold some of her work and gave some away. While living on the farm, her and Pode's house was primarily decorated with her paintings.

Over the years, Elma Jean kept quite busy attending her kids' and grandkids' music, sporting, and theatrical events. She was active in the IMP and other social clubs.

In 2006, she suffered the loss of her daughter, Jeanne (Waggoner) Hawley, to breast cancer.

In 2010, she and Pode celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. At the time of Pode's death in 2018, they had been blessed with 67 years of marriage.

Elma Jean is predeceased by her husband, Pode; daughter, Jeanne Hawley; son-in-law, Robert L. Richardson; and many other family members.

She is survived by her daughter, Julia Richardson, of Alma, NE; son Paul Waggoner, and wife, Cheri, of Alma, NE; son, David Waggoner, and husband, Randy Swalwell, of Chandler, AZ; son-in-law, Ryan Hawley, and wife, Joanne, of Alma, NE; ten grandchildren, including: Eric Haussermann and wife, Shondra, of Republican City, NE; Emily (Haussermann) Anderson and husband, Shon, of Holdrege, NE; Elissa (Haussermann) Priess and husband, Matt, of Scottsdale, AZ; Erin (Hawley) Sevier and husband, Jon, of Eagle, Idaho; Rebecca (Hawley) Finlayson and husband, Barry, of Washington, KS; Matt Hawley and wife, Celeste, of Hastings, NE; Nate Waggoner of Alma, NE; Shanna (Waggoner) Peterson and husband, Clay, of Lincoln, NE; Erica (Waggoner) Thomas and husband, Keath, of Phillipsburg, KS; and Lauren (Waggoner) Carpenter and husband, Andrew, of Cambridge, NE; 24 great-grandchildren, including: Kenley, Connor, Case, Cannon, and Colson Haussermann; Brenna Anderson and Savayah Speer; Elizabeth and Ethan Sevier; Evyn, Easton and Eli Finlayson; Nolan, Keegan and Graham Hawley; Landri, Blakely, Cameron, and Brooks Peterson; Baker, Raegan and Beckett Thomas; and Avery and Maddyn Carpenter; sister-in-law, Maxine Dow; and many other relatives and friends.

Memorial Book Signing will be held on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma.

A memorial has been established in Elma Jean's honor, and kindly suggested to the family.

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.