Emma Fahrenbruch

Emma Fahrenbruch

Sept. 15, 1931 - Oct. 12, 2012

HOLDREGE, Nebraska -- Funeral services for Emma Fahrenbruch will be conducted from the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand, Nebraska, on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Gary Panko officiating. Interment will be held at the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in rural Bertrand.

Emma Fahrenbruch, 91 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, (formerly of Bertrand) passed away on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. She was born on Sept. 15, 1921, at Loveland, Colorado, the sixth of nine children born to Henry Sitzman, Sr. and Anna Elizabeth (Bauer) Sitzman. When Emma was five years of age the family moved to Culbertson, Nebraska. She received her education from Culbertson Public Schools, graduating from Culbertson High School with the class of 1940.

On Nov. 7, 1943, Emma was united in marriage to Alfred Dale Fahrenbruch and to this union three children were born: Elizabeth Ann, Gerald Kent and James Alfred. The family made their home on farms in the Bertrand area, where Emma focused on the family and helped on the farm side-by-side with her husband, Alfred. Some of her favorite past-times were crocheting, counted cross stitch, embroidery, and other various handywork. She was well known for sharing her crocheted hangers with family and friends.

Emma was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand, where she taught Sunday school for many years, served on the church council, active with the Lutheran Women, and volunteered many hours tying quilts for missions. Emma was also a past member of Bertrand Women's Club and was a Cub Scout Den Mother for many years. On Nov. 4, 2006, she was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred. In 2009, she began to make her home at Holdrege Memorial Homes in assisted living.

Besides her parents and husband, Alfred; Emma was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Elizabeth Ann; son, Jerry Fahrenbruch in 2000; three brothers: Henry Sitzman and his wife, Anita, Harold Sitzman, and Kenneth Sitzman; five sisters: Molly Sitzman, Lydia Propp and her husband, Jake, Marie McKnight and her husband, Sam, Martha Wheeler and her husband, Harry, and Ruth Carr and her husband, Jay; brothers-in-law: Harold and Joe Fahrenbruch and sister-in-law, Leola Fahrenbruch.

She leaves to mourn her passing; her son, Jim Fahrenbruch and his wife, Cindy of Loomis, Nebraska; daughter-in-law, Diane Kenyon and her husband, Jake of Grand Island, Nebraska; three grandchildren: Jeff Fahrenbruch and his wife, Becky of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Amie Fahrenbruch Patel and her husband, Dr. Mihir Patel, and Chris Fahrenbruch and his wife, Stephanie of Holdrege; three great-grandchildren: Trinity and Peyton Fahrenbruch and Cooper Fahrenbruch; sisters-in-law: Verlyn Johnson and her husband, Dick of Holdrege, Phyllis Fahrenbruch of Kearney, and Georgene Sitzman of McCook, Nebraska; brother-in-law, Ray Fahrenbruch of Bertrand and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012, from 1 to 8 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in her memory and kindly suggested to the Immanuel Lutheran Church or the Bertrand Senior Center -- Building Fund.

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 arrangements.