Bernard Frank Korte

Jan. 30, 1918 - July 1, 2008

ORLEANS -- Bernard Frank Korte, 90, formerly of Orleans, died Tuesday (July 1, 2008) at Harlan County Health Systems in Alma.

He was born Jan. 30, 1918, on the family farm west of Orleans in Harlan County to Herman William and Anna Marie (Knobbe) Korte. He received his education at St. Mary's Catholic School in Orleans.

He married Eleanor Irene Kresser on Dec. 27, 1939, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. The couple made their home in Waterloo, Iowa, before returning to the Korte homestead west of Orleans. He operated the family Grade A dairy farm until his retirement in 1973.

Following retirement the couple moved into Orleans, where he was employed by the Alfalfa Mill and later worked as custodian for the Orleans Public School. Upon retirement in 1980, the annual staff dedicated the school annual in honor of his service. In April of 2003 they moved to Colonial Villa in Alma. His wife died Dec. 23, 2003.

He was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans where he was active in many capacities and was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Orleans Lions Club.

Survivors include his children, Pat Miller of Lincoln, Betty Eyre and husband, Dave of Shenandoah Junction, W.Va., Kathy Platt and husband, Dennis of Bastrop, Texas, Alan Korte and wife, Diane of Watkins, Minn., Dwayne Korte and wife, Bert of Fullerton, David Korte and wife, Deb of McCook and Barb Thompson of Holdrege; daughters-in-law, Marsha Korte of Oxford and Jenny Korte of Hastings; three sisters, Sister Antonilla Korte of O'Fallon, Mo., Mary Menke and husband, Jim and Anna "Dolly" Menke and husband, Arnold, all of Fort Madison, Iowa; two brothers, Ernest Korte of California and Ray Korte and wife, Pauline of Fort Myers, Fla.; sisters-in-law, Peggy Korte of Caldwell, Idaho and Mary Lennemann of Alma; 19 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor; two sons, Bob and Gary Korte; two grandchildren, Dorothy Korte and Jeffery Korte; one great-grandson, Dillon Schmale; son-in-law, George Miller; four sisters, Betty Hergott and husband, Francis, Clara Wiedel and husband, Albert, Margaret Hardin and husband, Leonard, Bertha Robinson and husband, Wayne; two brothers, Walter and August Korte and a brother and sister in infancy; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Johnny and Mary Kresser, Art Lennemann, Anna and Albert Mergen, Agnes and Al Schmidt, Evelyn and George Dobberstein, Frankie and Irma Kresser, Rose and Fritz Frost and Larry and Mildred Kresser.

Mass of Christian Burial Service will be Monday, July 7, 2008, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans on with the Rev. Harlan Waskowiak officiating. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery at Orleans.

Visitation will be at the church on Sunday from 3 - 7 p.m. and prior to the Mass on Monday. A Wake Service will be Sunday evening at 7 p.m. at the church. Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

The Mitchell Funeral Home in Orleans is in charge of the arrangements.