Wilma E. Sorge

Celebration of Life Services for Wilma E. Sorge will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. (Mountain Time) at the United Methodist Church in Imperial, Nebraska with Pastor Melody Newman officiating. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Wilma E. Sorge, 73 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska (formerly of Imperial), passed away on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege after a lengthy illness. Wilma was born on January 14, 1943 in Grant, Nebraska, the sixth child of the "Magnificent 7" born to John and Alta (Carey) Wheeler.

On September 13, 1969, Wilma was united in marriage to William Henry "Bill" Sorge.

Wilma worked many places during her lifetime making friends along the way. She started her career as a young girl making popcorn at the movie theater in Grant and her enjoyment of popcorn continued throughout her life. She also worked as a telephone operator in Grant and later as a para-educator and cook for the Lamar schools. Wilma retired from the Chase County Hospital working in laundry, but her true love was being a wife, mother and grandmother and working with her family on the farm.

In 2011, Wilma and Bill moved to Holdrege to be closer to family. Wilma continued to make new friends after moving to Holdrege by attending lunch as frequently as possible at the Senior Citizens Center with her husband Bill. Wilma and Bill enjoyed afternoon drives, stopping at Sonic for their afternoon diet Cokes, checking crops and keeping an eye on family and friends, but they especially enjoyed their time at the North Park watching the ducks and fisherman.

Wilma was grandmother to 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was known as "Grandma" by many, especially her friend, Andrew "Lil Andy" Bendorf.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by: her in-laws, Robert and Bernice Sorge; brother, Roy Wheeler; and grandsons: Terry Schneider and Corey Richards.

Wilma is survived by her husband, William; children: John Schneider and his wife, Kay of Elko, Nevada, Thom Schneider and his wife, Cindy of Kearney, Nebraska, Beth Evans and her husband, Steve of Holdrege, and Bryan Sorge of Holdrege; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four sisters: Velta Larson of Phoenix, Arizona, Bertha Hagen of North Platte, Nebraska, Coleta Corey of Silverdale, Washington, Vada Keesler and her husband, Harold of Dowagiac, Michigan; one brother, Larry Wheeler and his wife, Norma of Oxford, Michigan; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends and her beloved dog, Rudy.

There will be no visitation as the family is honoring her wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established in Wilma's honor which will contribute to a new automatic opening bathroom door at the Senior Center in Holdrege.

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

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