Greta Mae (Gardner) Roethemeyer, 89, was called to her heavenly home on Saturday, May 25, 2024. She was born on September 5, 1934 to Clyde and Violet (Murphy) Gardner in Quick, Nebraska, the fifth of six children.
Greta attended County School District 101 for Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, Stockville High School for Ninth Grade, before graduating from Curtis School of Agriculture in Curtis, Nebraska. Greta went to Kearney State Teachers College in Kearney, Nebraska to obtain a teaching degree. Upon receiving her teaching degree Greta taught one year in a county school north of Moorefield, Nebraska.
Mutual friends (Stan and DeVona Sellers) set Greta up on a blind date with Willis Roethemeyer on Christmas Eve 1950. Greta married Willis on April 23, 1952. When Willis was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1954, Greta stayed on the farm with Willis’ parents while he was in basic training. When Willis was assigned to Edwards AFB in California, they bought a trailer and Greta joined her husband in California for the duration of his service. After being discharged, they returned home to the family farm with the first of their five daughters. They worked on the farm together as true partners to provide for their growing family. Both worked the fields, one on the tractor while the other got some sleep, so they could work around the clock allowing them to spend family time together camping and fishing.
Greta was an accomplished seamstress and spent many hours making clothes for their growing family. She tended a large garden, teaching her girls how to water, weed, and hoe to produce a harvest that would be canned for the family to use throughout the year. She was a good cook who enjoyed trying out new recipes while teaching her girls how to cook.
Greta and husband Willis served as Lincoln County 4-H leaders for over a decade. Greta taught many of the young neighboring farm children who were interested in learning how to craft, cook, bake and sew. She enjoyed going to the County Fair to see what ribbons her young 4-Hers had earned.
After her youngest was born, Greta became interested in Weight Watchers. After successfully meeting her own goal weight, she became very active with Weight Watchers. She traveled to classes in Curtis, Ogallala, McCook and North Platte as a class lecturer for over 20 years. She also served as a substitute as needed. Greta served on the KRVN Board for twelve years. She loved to travel to new places around the world with her husband. During their traveling years they went to China, Australia, France, England, Brazil, and Scotland, just to name a few. She loved meeting new people wherever she went. After they moved from the farm to North Platte, Greta took classes at the community college where she learned to paint with oils and acrylics. She also took upholstery and refinishing classes and had fun fixing up old treasures and giving them new life. Greta sold a lot of her treasures and finds for several years by renting a space at local antique stores. Her creativity and innovation were her gift. She was a great listener, storyteller and inspiration.
Greta was preceded in death by her parents (Clyde and Violet); sisters Rosale Henggeler and Vyvene Young; brothers James Gardner and Bernard Gardner; brothers-in-laws Bob Henggeler, Fred Young, Jerry Miller; sister-in-law Betty Gardner; son-in-law Verne Leyendecker.
She is survived by her husband, Willis Roethemeyer; daughters Debra Roethemeyer, Sue (Rich) Meranda, Angie (Steve) Chittick, Kami (Aaron) Conley, and Missy (Jim) Friend, 12 grandchildren which include A.J., Shawn, Trish, and Jenny Jurgens, Seth and Kathleen Meranda, Cort and Clay Chittick, Matt and Amy Livingston, Jorden and Morgen Friend; 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, and sister Peggy Miller.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in North Platte, Nebraska. A reception will be held immediately after service with burial at Curtis Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 29 from noon to 7:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home.