Ortha M Broeker

Celebration of Life Service for Ortha M. Broeker will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Oxford, Nebraska with Pastor Brian Jenkins officiating.  Interment will be held in the Carter Cemetery in Harlan County, Nebraska following the services.

Ortha Mae Broeker, 86 years of age, of rural Orleans, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Society in Alma, Nebraska.  Ortha was born February 5, 1929 at Stamford, Nebraska, the second of three children born to Carl and Viola (Lunbery) Lans.  She received her primary education from District #4 in Harlan County, southeast of Stamford and then graduated from Stamford High School with the class of 1946.  She then pursued her teaching credentials at the Kearney State Teacher's College and then taught school for several years in rural schools in Harlan County,

On June 3, 1949 she was united in marriage to Wallace R. Broeker at the Stamford Christian Church and to this union five children were born:  Dana Kay, Donald Carl, Linda Louise, Duane Lee, and Wesley Eugene.  The family made their home on the family farm in the Carter Community.  Ortha focused her efforts on raising their children when they were young.  She also enjoyed life on the farm, working side-by-side with Wallace taking meals to the field and driving trucks if necessary.  She will be fondly remembered for her talent of quilting making.  Ortha lovingly made a quilt for every grandchild in the family.  Ortha and Wallace also enjoyed traveling and loved square dancing for many years.  As a past-time she also enjoyed playing the piano, and found time to teach piano to area children.

Ortha was a member of the First Baptist Church in Oxford for many years, where she taught Sunday school, played the piano, assisted with the direction of the children's choir and active with the ladies aide.   She also enjoyed many friendship bonds that were formed through the years as a member of the Carter Cheer Extension Club.

She was preceded by her parents; one grandson, Craig Broeker; one brother, Roland Lans and his wife, Irene; brothers-in-law:  Kenneth "Bud" Broeker, Robert Broeker, Oral Broeker and his wife, Pearl, Stanley Langenberg, Milton "Tilly" Thulin, and Doug York; sisters-in-law:  Louise Broeker in infancy, Marjorie (Brown) Dyas and her two husbands:  Harold Brown Jr. and Dick Dyas, Berniece McQuiston and her husband, Roland, and Carla Freeburg and her husband, Laval.

Ortha leaves to mourn her passing her husband of 65+ years, Wallace Broeker of rural Orleans; two daughters:  Dana Kay Tarr and her husband, Terry of Leverett, Massachusetts and Linda Stalliviere and her husband, Leonard of Toole, Utah; three sons:  Donald Broeker and his wife, Janet of Oxford, Duane Broeker and his wife, Bonnie of Seward, Nebraska and Wesley Broeker and his wife, Valeri of Orleans; thirteen grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; one sister, Adale Schroeder and her husband, Glen of Kearney, Nebraska; sisters-in-law:  Ardis Proctor and her husband, Carl of Oxford, Phyllis Thulin of Beaver City, Nebraska, Janice Maaske and her husband, Darrell of rural Oxford, LoRee Broeker of Holdrege, and Donna Dallman and her husband, Myron of Franklin, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford.

A memorial has been established in Ortha's honor and kindly suggested to the donor's choice.

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

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of the arrangements.