Eilene Marie Wehr-Rath, 86, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at her home in Lexington.
She was born on April 20, 1937, in Bennet, Nebraska, to Fred and Agnes (Brejcha) Thomas. Eilene attended public school in Bennet and graduated from Bennet High School with the class of 1954. She married Robert (Bob) Snyder in 1955. To this union, two children were born, David and Theresa (Terri). In 1967, she married Veryl Wehr and welcomed his son, Doug. The three kids were raised as one family. After Veryl’s death, Eilene married Hugh Rath in 2007. They spent their latter years of life singing to each other, studying the Bible, and just loving one another!
Eilene spent most of her adult career working for Reach Electronics in Lexington. She worked up the corporate ladder from secretary to eventually becoming CEO. During this time, her biggest accomplishment was applying for and having the company awarded the President’s “E” Award for Exports from the US Government. She got to dine at the White House with then President Ronald Reagan. After Reach closed their doors, she moved on to work for Veetronix, a subsidiary of Reach. She would tell her kids, “I’m just a little ole’ kid from a little ole’ town with no college education. I just can’t believe the opportunities I’ve had in my life!” She retired early when her husband, Veryl, became ill and needed around-the-clock care.
Eilene loved spending time with her family, cooking, boating, being at the lake, and being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed needlework and doing plastic canvas. She gave many of the things she made away. In her younger years, you would find her sunbathing or boating at Johnson Lake, but as she aged, she liked watching Andy Griffith or Looney Tunes on tv, relaxing outside, and taking naps! She was a member of the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Kearney.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Doug Wehr of Kearney, David (Linda Kingham) Snyder of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Theresa (Terri) Casper of Lexington; step-children, Steve (Linda) Rath of Elwood, Nebraska and Mike (Amanda) Rath of Whitney, Nebraska; sister, Phyllis (Ralph) Steward of Bennet, Nebraska; grandchildren, Jason (Tiffany) Wehr, Christopher (Claudia) Wehr, Daniel (Felicia) Snyder, Alyssa (Ryan) Benson, Julie (Sean) Urban, Mary Beth (Clint) Stoll, Curt Casper, Becki (Tom) Hoffman, Eric Casper and Blake (Courtney Patterson) Casper; fifteen great-grandchildren with two more on the way, special friend Sue Berndt who cared for her so lovingly the last several years, as well as many extended family and friends.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her ex-husband Robert (Bob)Snyder, husband, Veryl Wehr, and husband, Hugh Rath; brothers, John Thomas and Bill Thomas; sister, Vivian Thomas, son-in-law Craig Casper, stepchildren, Debra Smith, Ron Rath, and Beverly Dyke.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington with Pastor John Strackbein, officiating. The service will be live-streamed via the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home Facebook page.
Inurnment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington, with refreshments following at Grace Lutheran Church in Lexington.
Memorials are kindly suggested to the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department. A very special thank you to the LVFD for helping Eilene so many times.510
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com