Lawrence Wohleb

Mass of Christian Burial for Lawrence O. Wohleb will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alma, Nebraska with Father Jamie Hottovy officiating.  Rosary will be recited on Thursday, morning at 9:30 a.m. at the church prior to the Mass.  Interment will be in the Naponee Cemetery at Naponee, Nebraska following the services.

Lawrence Orville Wohleb, 95 years of age, of Naponee, passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at the Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Center in Alma.  Lawrence was born on the family farm, north of Bloomington in Franklin County, Nebraska, on July 11, 1919, the second of three children born to Adolph and Mary (Schnuerle) Wohleb.  He received his education at Bloomington, graduating from Bloomington High School with the class of 1937.  He then pursued higher education at the Kearney State College for a short time in the fall of 1940 before he was stricken with Polio.  While he was recovering from Polio, Lawrence practiced watch repair which continued to be a hobby for many years.

On January 21, 1946 he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Viola Dobberstein and to this union four children were born:  Sheila, Rita, Mariann, and Jerome.  The family made their home in Naponee for 68 years of marriage, where Lawrence served as the Postmaster for 40 years.  He also engaged in farming and raised cattle until he was in his 90's.  He served the U.S. Department of Commerce, recording precipitation and water levels in the Turkey Creek for over 60 years.  With his dedication to this service he received multiple awards.  He was always happy to help anyone in need.

Lawrence was a very devoted member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Naponee, where he served as caretaker, Parish Council Member, and Trustee for over 63 years.  He was a very devout Catholic that always commented, "The greatest thing that ever happened to him was being baptized a Catholic."  He also served on the Naponee Town Board, the Naponee School Board, and served on the Naponee Volunteer Fire Department for many years.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law:  Stephen and Anna Dobberstein; granddaughter, Mariah Bevins; one brother, Ralph Wohleb; and brother-in-law, Paul Hupf.

He leaves to mourn his passing; his wife of 68 years, Viola Wohleb of Naponee; three daughters:  Sheila Downey and her husband, Mike of Naponee, Rita Bevans and her husband, Brian of Waverly, Nebraska, and Mariann Bevins and her husband, Bob of Lincoln, Nebraska; one son, Jerome Wohleb and his wife, Janet of Lincoln; thirteen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Gladys Hupf of Hastings, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Arlene Wohleb of Tucson, Arizona; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Lawrence's honor and will be designated at a later date.

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.