Virgil Einspahr

Funeral Services for Virgil H. Einspahr will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 10:30 a.m., at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxford, Nebraska with Pastor Wes Hafner officiating. Interment will be held following the services at the Oxford Cemetery.

Virgil Harry Einspahr, 83 years of age, of rural Orleans, Nebraska, passed away on Friday, April 28, 2017 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege, Nebraska. Virgil was born April 26, 1934 in his grandmother's farm house near Flagler, Colorado, the eldest of four children born to Harley H. Einspahr, Sr. and Hattie (Kotteymeyer) Einspahr. He received his primary education from a rural school in Dawson County, and then attended Wilsonville High School, graduating with the class of 1952.

On August 22, 1954, he was united in marriage to Clela L. Wolzen, and to this union six children were born: Pamela, Vickie, Kirk, Keith, Gordon, and Carol. Virgil engaged in farming with his uncle, south of Beaver City, Nebraska, until 1972, when the family moved north of Orleans. He then continued his life's passion of farming. On May 17, 1974, Virgil was preceded in death by his wife, Clela.

On July 25, 1975, he was united in marriage to Janis E. Ludeke at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxford, and they continued to make their home on the farm north of Orleans. In September of that year the couple adopted a daughter, Jolene. In addition to farming, Virgil was also employed by Holdrege Irrigation for 12 years.

Virgil enjoyed mechanic work, and tinkering with equipment. Most of all, he loved to attend the activities of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He had a special touch with children, whether it was rocking a baby to sleep, giving advice, or being an example of what work ethic should be. Before his own work was done on the farm, Virgil could often be found helping neighbor's in need. He will be missed by all.

Besides his parents and first wife, Clela, he was preceded in death by his brother, Norman Einspahr; son-in-law, Jeff Bantam; sisters-in-laws: Diana Kay and Carla Ann Ludeke in infancy, and Charlene Farwell and her husband, Gayle; and brothers-in-law: Dean Wolzen, Bill Chambers, Ivan Shafer, and Jinx Jones.

Virgil leaves to celebrate his life; his wife, Janis Einspahr of rural Orleans; his seven children: Pamela Wessels and her husband, Joel of Alma, Nebraska, Vickie Geiselman and her husband, Duane of Arapahoe, Nebraska, Kirk Einspahr of Edison, Nebraska, Keith Einspahr and his wife, Deb of Omaha, Nebraska, Gordon Einspahr and his wife, Stephanie of Syracuse, Kansas, Carol Messersmith and her husband, Shawn of Grand Island, Nebraska, and Jolene Einspahr of Orleans; 20 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; sister, Elaine Houlden and her husband, Dean of Elwood, Nebraska; brother, Harley Einsphar, Jr. and his wife, Merileen of Farnam, Nebraska; brothers-in-laws: Ron Ludeke and his wife, Sharon of Oxford, Steve Ludeke of Lincoln, Nebraska, Rodney Ludeke and his wife, Patti of Phoenix, Arizona, and JayDee Wolzen and his wife, Peg of Stamford, Nebraska; sisters-in-laws: Cynthia Einspahr of Longmont, Colorado, Karen Ludeke and Sharon Jones, both of Oxford, Lana Nitchie and her husband, Ronald of Holdrege, Helen Wolzen of Arapahoe, Donna Shafer of Arapahoe, and Glenda Chambers of Tucson, Arizona, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 1, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxford.

A memorial has been established in Virgil's honor and kindly suggested to St. John's Lutheran Church of Oxford, the Phelps Memorial Health Center Foundation in Holdrege, the Heartland Lutheran High School in Grand Island, Nebraska, or the St. Pius / St. Leo Catholic School in Omaha, Nebraska.

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.