Erna M. Engelke, 87

Erna M. Engelke, 87, of Blair, died Saturday, May 15, 2010, in Omaha.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 18, at First Lutheran Church in Blair. Interment will be in the Blair Cemetery.

Erna M. Gutschow was born Dec. 27, 1922, in Blair to Chris F. and Marie (Nielsen) Gutschow.

When she was still in her teens, her first job was as a clerk in charge of the candy counter at the Ben Franklin store in downtown Blair. This may have been her most favorite job because she very much enjoyed chocolate.

She married Virgil C. "Tim" Engelke on Dec. 30, 1942, when he returned home on leave from the United States Navy during World War II.

As her children and their friends were growing up, her home became very popular in the neighborhood as she stayed very busy creating a place where everyone around her knew they were loved. When her children wee older, she worked at the Blair Bakery and J. M. McDonald's clothing store until the mid 1970s when she stopped working due to her husband's health.

She loved cooking, baking and crocheting, as well as visiting with much loved friends and family whenever possible. She had a very strong and unwavering faith in God as her foundation and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Elaine Engelke; daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Jim Custard, all of Blair; six grandchildren, Tim Mann, John Mann, Bridgette Kyral, Peggy Sue Suddick, Lori Wolff, Jill Jensen; 10 great-grandchildren, Marshall Suddick, Tom Wolff, Haley Suddick, Noelle Kyral, Emma Wolff, Paige Kyral, Joshua Suddick, Lance Jensen, Mason Mann, Wyatt Walker; sister, Catherine Giesselmann of Fremont; brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Kay Gutschow of Fremont.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tim; infant grandson; infant granddaughter; infant great-grandson; sisters, Jennie, Beulah and Margaret; and brothers, Fred and Bill.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

#2 Printed in the May 17, 2010 World-Herald, Omaha, Nebraska

Engelke, Erna M., age 87

Blair NE. Erna is survived by a son and a daughter-in-law, Alan and Elaine Engelke; daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Jim Custard, all of Blair; 6 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister Catherine Giesselmann of Fremont; brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Kay Gutschow of Fremont.

Services 10:30 am Tuesday, May 18, at First Lutheran Church. Visitation begins Monday 12 noon, with a Prayer Service at 7 pm at the Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the family or donor’s choice.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home, Blair, NE 402-426-2191

~~~Obituaries courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Association; newspaper clippings on file at the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~