Veronica “Vonnie” (Teel) Tiller, entered Heaven on September 24, 2021. Growing up during the Great Depression, Vonnie learned the values of hard work, self-reliance, and generosity she practiced throughout her life.
Vonnie was born north of Indianola on February 11, 1931. She attended high school in Curtis where she took teacher training classes. Her first job at age 17 was the one-room Zion Hill School with seven students, two of which were age 14. Her younger brother, Marv was once among her students.
In 1954, she married Robert “Bob” Tiller and they raised three children: Don, Jim and Kathy. In 1975, they added a fourth: nephew, John Bartels joined them. Their happy home also included (at times) an exchange student, pheasant hunters, and other family who all enjoyed Vonnie’s abundant hospitality.
Vonnie and Bob farmed and ranched in Frontier County. They were very proud of the operation they built, and in her later years Vonnie still enjoyed drives to the farm to see what was going on.
Vonnie was vital in the community, typically in leadership roles: the Zion Hill Ladies Club, three different extension clubs, three bridge clubs, PEO (serving in all positions), and she was recently awarded a 50-year member pin for UMW. She was instrumental in establishing Meals on Wheels as a daily option for McCook residents and enjoyed delivering the meals also. She and Bob sponsored MYF, chaperoned youth trips, and supervised the MYF food booth at the County Fair.
Vonnie and Bob started traveling by motor home in 1990; it soon became a passion. They crisscrossed the US, everywhere meeting additional friends for life. Vonnie served this community too: as president of the Missouri Valley Chapter of the ACA and charter member of the “Same Old Buddies” RV club.
Vonnie loved her family and loved visitors. She was always ready to feed you even if you had just eaten! She gardened, canned, and made delicious cookies and jellies. She enjoyed Husker volleyball and football and enthusiastically attended as many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s events as possible.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Ernie and Blanche Teel; in-laws, Bill and Myrtle Tiller; and her husband, Bob in August of 2017.
She is survived by her children: Don (Patty) Tiller of Fort Collins, CO; Jim (Theresa) Tiller of Curtis; Kathy (Milan) Hanson of Fort Collins, CO; and John (Lori) Bartels of McCook; eleven grandchildren; and nineteen great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister Margaret Johnson of Omaha; and brother Marvin Teel of Keystone, SD.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM on Friday afternoon, October 1, 2021 at Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook. The family will be present from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM to greet friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday afternoon, October 2, 2021 at Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook with Pastor Jeff Kelley officiating. Interment will follow services in Memorial Park Cemetery, McCook. Services will also be livestreamed through the church's website (mccookumc.com) for those that cannot attend.
Memorials are suggested to Memorial United Methodist Church in Vonnie's Name. Online condolences may be left at herrmannfh.com. Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.