Gertrude L. Wiepen

Gertrude L. Wiepen, age 93 of Coleridge, Nebraska and formerly of St. Helena, Nebraska died on Monday, December 30, 2019 at Park View Haven Nursing Home in Coleridge. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, January 3, 2020 at 10:30 am at Holy Family (Immaculate Conception) Catholic Church in St. Helena, NE with Rev. David Liewer officiating. Burial will be in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in St. Helena. Visitation will be on Thursday, at church, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm with a vigil service at 7:00 pm.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to services on Friday at church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home of Hartington. Pallbearers will be Matthew Bonertz, Curtis Lammers, Cullen Kohles, Justin Jansen, Doug Jansen, Russ Wiepen, and Nick Wiepen. Honorary pallbearers will be Gertrude’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Gertrude Louise Wiepen was born on September 11, 1926 in Newcastle, NE to Henry and Carrie (Richards) Day. She grew up in the Newcastle area and graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1944. After high school, Gertrude attended Wayne State College and received her Teacher’s Certificate. She taught in rural schools prior to her marriage. On August 23, 1949, Gertrude married Alphonse Wiepen at St. Peter’s Church in Newcastle. To this union, 10 children were born. Gertrude took care of numerous neighbors, was a CCD Teacher, and worked in the East Catholic school lunch program. She was a member of the Altar Society, the Christian Mothers, and was a firm believer of praying the rosary. She loved to garden and always had fresh baked goods to eat. Gertrude was a people person who enjoyed the company of her neighbors. Her family also remembers her for her remarkable memory. Gertrude is survived by her husband, Alphonse; eight children and spouses, Bonnie (Guy) Kohles of Crofton, NE, Emery (Claudette) Wiepen of St. Helena, NE, Glendy (Vernon) Lammers of Hartington, NE, Phyllis Jansen of Yankton, SD, Judy Bonertz of Sioux City, IA, Joan (Steve) Jansen of Fordyce, NE, Christy Hochstein of Yankton, SD, Jeff (Jan) Wiepen of Omaha, NE; brother-in-law Jerome Boeckman of Wynot; sister-in-law Irma Wiepen of St. Helena, NE; 27 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Duane in 1977, and infant son Gerard; son-in-law, John Jansen; sisters, Marjorie Pinkleman, Betty Kneifl, Zeta Boeckman, infant sister Catherine Ann Day; two brothers, Francis and Gerald; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Francis Kneifl, Leonard Pinkelman, Francis Wiepen, Bruno (Joyce) Wiepen, Anna (Edwin) Pinkelman, and Delores (Julius) Schmitt.