Vivan E Von Loh

Celebration of Life Services for Vivian E. Von Loh will be held on Monday, April 20, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield, Nebraska with Reverend Tim Glendening officiating.  Interment will be held in the Highland Cemetery at Bertrand, Nebraska following the services.

Vivian Elaine Von Loh, 87 years of age, of Bertrand, passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege, Nebraska.  Vivian was born on January 29, 1928 at Broken Bow, Nebraska, the fourth of six children born to John William and Avis (Uhlman) Cooley.  She received her primary education at Broken Bow until the family moved to Lexington, Nebraska, where she graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1945.  Vivian then pursued higher education at Kearney State College, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education in 1965 and later, in 1977, her Master's Degree in Administration.

On June 1, 1948, she was united in marriage to Harold "Fritz" Henry Von Loh and to this union five children were born:  John, Kathy, Martha, Paul and Darik.  The family made their home in Bertrand.  Vivian began her teaching career in rural schools in Dawson and Gosper County until her employment with the Loomis Public Schools.  She served as an elementary teacher for 18 years, and ultimately was appointed as the Loomis School Elementary Principal until her retirement in May of 1985.  Her husband, Fritz passed away in 1981.

Vivian's passion was her love of traveling, and was fortunate to visit every continent with the exception of Antarctica.  Her hobbies included gardening, puzzles, playing the organ and she loved to play cards.  Family was always first in her life, and she loved celebrating the birth of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Vivian was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church.

Besides her parents and husband, Fritz, she was preceded in death by two sisters:  Eleanor Cooley as a toddler and Zelma High and one brother, Kenneth Cooley.

Vivian leaves to mourn her five children:  John Von Loh and his wife, Jackie of Corrales, New Mexico, Kathy Vetick and her husband, John of Polk City, Iowa, Martha Ford and her husband, Bill of Bertrand, Paul Von Loh and his fiancé, Lynn Sterling both of Sidney, Nebraska, and Darik Von Loh and his wife, Sandra of Lincoln, Nebraska; 11 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; two sisters: Alice Thorell and her husband, DeWayne of Lincoln, Sharon Jordening and her husband, Dave of Germantown, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Mary Cooley of Norman, Oklahoma and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 19, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand.

A memorial has been established in Vivian'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 Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand is in charge of the arrangements.