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Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 4:31 AM

Elda M. Hemmer

Elda M. Hemmer

Mass of Christian Burial for Elda M. Hemmer, age 91, of Norfolk, Neb., was at 10:30 a.m., Monday, April 28, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Norfolk. Reverend Vincent Germace, Samuel Beardslee, and Joseph Hemmer were concelebrants.

The service was livestreamed on the funeral home website.

Following a luncheon at St. Mary’s Parish Center, burial was in Holy Family Cemetery in Lindsay, Neb.

Visitation was on Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at the church, and a 7 p.m. Vigil Service.

Home for Funerals in Norfolk is in charge of arrangements.

Elda passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.

Elda M. Hemmer was born Dec. 9, 1933, at home in Lindsay, Neb., to Peter and Angela (Weidner) Herchenbach. She was baptized, confirmed and attended school at St. Bernard Church, rural Lindsay. She attended school through the 8th grade and completed two grades in one year.

Elda lived on the family farm while having various outside jobs including babysitting for family. At age twelve, she had polio and spent a lengthy time in the hospital recovering. She attended dances and met her future husband at a dance in Humphrey, Neb., where the band Duffy Belorad was performing.

Elda married Lee Hemmer on May 5, 1954, at St. Bernard Church, rural Lindsay.

After their marriage Elda was a homemaker, farm wife, raised chickens, sold eggs to the local community, and worked at the Madison Market. She was a member of Holy Family Church in Lindsay for many years and was very active in the church and the Holy Family Guild. She belonged to a local neighborhood card club and Hometts Extension Club.

In 1985, they moved to Norfolk. Besides Lee’s full-time job, Elda and Lee started a small cleaning business where they cleaned and performed winter and summer maintenance at local medical clinics and homes. She assisted her daughter Renee with her daycare where she enjoyed holding the babies.

Elda was a member of Sacred Heart-St. Mary’s Parish in Norfolk. She was very active in the church as a member of the Bound for Glory Choir and had a holy hour of perpetual adoration. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and past

Co-President of the Alter Society. She was a member of the Rosary Crusade and a small rosary group.

Elda had a lifelong love of cooking, baking, and kept a very tidy home. She loved her family and friends and enjoyed coffee, playing cards, and visiting with people.

Elda is survived by her children, Cindi (Terry) Oberhauser of Lindsay, Mike (Jules Gottlieb) of Ankeny, Iowa, Dan (Cindy) of Albion, Dale (Mary) of Humphrey, Renee (Matt) Gronenthal of Norfolk, and Brian (Dani) of Kearney; siblings, Jerry Herchenbach of Columbus and Mary (Ivan) VanDyke of Norfolk; in-laws Father Joe Hemmer of Manitowoc, Wis., Elaine (Don) Hamm of Centerville, Iowa, Carol Freudenburg of Madison, Deloris Herchenbach of Columbus; 23 grandchildren; 34 greatgrandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee A. Hemmer in 2012; her parents, parents in-law, Albert and Antonette Hemmer; daughter-in-law Peg Hemmer; granddaughters, Abby Hemmer and Katie Jo Gronenthal; greatgranddaughter, A’Karria Callahan; siblings, Iona (Emmet) Dempsey, Mark (Kay) Herchenbach, Romana (Wilfred) Hemmer, Louis (Janice) Herchenbach, and Eugene Herchenbach; and in-laws, Darlene Herchenbach, Floyd (Mary Ann) Hemmer, Erna (Dick) Ternus, Patricia (Dave) Bierman, Bill Hemmer, and Beth (Ray) Patrick.

Memorials are requested to the family for future designation.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.homeforfuneralsinc.com.


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