Blanche Wilma Weidner

Blanche Wilma Weidner

Jan. 22, 1928 - Feb. 19, 2014

TRENTON, Nebraska -- Blanche Wilma Weidner of Trenton passed away Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, at Community Hospital in McCook. She was 86 years old.

Blanche was born Jan. 22, 1928, to Willie and Emma (Poertner) Wendelin, on the family farm east of Crete in Lancaster County.

Pastor Cholcher baptized her in her parents' home on March 18, 1928. She attended country school district No. 16 for seven years, and graduated from eighth grade at St. John's Parochial school near Kramer, Nebraska, in 1941. Pastor Carl Pebler confirmed her at St. John's Lutheran Church in 1941.

On April 22, 1947, she married Carl August Weidner at St. John's Lutheran Church of rural Crete by Pastor Carl Pebler. They lived in Culbertson a few months before moving to their farm seven miles southeast of Trenton, where she has lived since. They were blessed with three children, Carleen, Carl W. (Bill) and Russell.

Blanche enjoyed working in the yard, garden, and helping on the farm before her health kept her from doing it. She and Carl enjoyed traveling to the mountains to help her allergies. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a great blessing to her, and she always looked forward to being together with any of them.

She taught Sunday school and was superintendent for many years at the Grace Lutheran Church in Trenton. She then transferred to Peace Lutheran in McCook, where she remained a member.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl in 2010; parents, Willie and Emma Wendelin; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Elmer and LaVerne Wendelin and Glen and Rosie Wendelin and brothers-in-law, Raymond Kattau, Herbert Ketelsen and Frank Weidner.

Surviving her are her children, Carleen and husband, Glen Andersen of Blair, Nebraska, Bill Weidner and wife, Cindy, of Highland, Illinois and Russell Weidner and wife, Michelle, of Culbertson; her grandchildren, Darin and Dawn Andersen of Blair, Emily and Geoff De Old of Omaha, Nebraska, Amanda and Keith Ripperda of Sherman, Illinois, Keri and Ben Moore of Troy, Illinois, Matt and Georgina Weidner, Adam and Emily Weidner, of Highland, Illinois, Jarod Weidner of Denver, Colorado, Elizabeth and Nery Munoz of Kearney, Nebraska, and Calen Weidner of Culbertson; great-grandchildren, Grant and Colin Ripperda, Tyler, Hope and Makayla Andersen, Alex Moore, and Carl Cody Weidner. Also surviving is her sister, La Verna Kattau, of Crete; sister-in-law, Dorothy Ketelsen of Highland, Illinois; brother-in-law and wife, Herman and Annice Weidner, of Culbertson; three nieces, Diane Gropp of Crete and her family, Marilyn Weidner of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Debra Wendelin of Crete;and two nephews, Todd and Maria Wendelin and their family, of Crete and Ronald Weidner of Culbertson; cousins, family and a host of many friends.

Memorials may be given in her name to KNGN Radio.

Visitation will be Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, 1-8 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home. Friends may send condolences online at www.carpenterbreland.com

Services will be Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, 10:30 a.m., at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook with Pastor Tom Albertson officiating. Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Nebraska, at 2:30 p.m.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.