Violet W. Pinkelman

Violet W. Pinkelman age 74 of Wynot, Nebraska died on Friday, August 30, 2024 at Park View Haven Nursing Home in Coleridge, Nebraska.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Family (Sacred Heart) Catholic Church in Wynot with the Rev. Jim Keiter officiating. Burial will be in Sts. Philip and James cemetery in St. James, Nebraska. Visitation will be on Tuesday, at church, from 5-7:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington.

 Pallbearers will be Brandon Fiscus, Bill Steffen, Brian Blauhorn, Blaze Blauhorn, Christian Fiscus, Matthew Pinkelman, and Andy Veldhuizen.  Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren.

 Violet was born December 12, 1949 in Coleridge, NE to Henry and Agnes (Backer) Kurtzhals. She grew up on their farm east of Coleridge. She was a member of the St. Michael Catholic Church where she received the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. She graduated from Coleridge Community High School in 1968 where she received the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow award, and was MVP and co-captain of the volleyball team. After graduation, she farmed alongside her parents, took shorthand classes and was a nanny in Massachusetts for a short time. 

 She married Stanley Pinkelman on August 21, 1976 in the St. Michael Catholic Church, Coleridge. They farmed and raised their family of 6 children near St. James, NE. She was an active member of St. Philip and James Catholic church in St. James from 1976 until it closed in 2000, where she was a member of the Altar Society as well as taught CCD. She then became a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wynot. 

 Violet actively farmed her whole life. She was an avid gardener of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. She would can hundreds of jars of produce every year for her family. She also had a passion for woodworking. The Cedar County Fair always something Violet enjoyed! Through the years, she received the most blue ribbons award as well as best fruit pie. Because of her passion for flowers, Violet was a superintendent in the floral division as well. In 2001, she and four other local ladies created the St. James Marketplace in St. James, NE as a way to preserve Ss. Philip and James church history and to allow artisans to display and sell their handmade, homemade goodness! The 20 years of having the St. James Marketplace brought Violet much joy and enjoyable conversations. She made fruit pies, whole wheat bread, and wooden crafts to sell there.

 Violet is survived by her husband, Stanley, of 48 years (St. James, NE) 6 children; Cathy (Brian) Blauhorn, Archer, NE; Christina (Bill) Steffen, Osmond, NE; Ann (Andy) Veldhuizen, Canton, SD; Beth (Brandon) Fiscus, Coleridge, NE; Matthew (Joy) Pinkelman, St. James, NE; and Timothy Pinkelman, West Point, NE, 15 grandchildren, three sisters, Carolyn (Francis) Steffen, Crofton, NE, Bernadette (Dale) McConnell, Fair Grove, MO, and Marge (Keith) Benoit, Vermillion, SD and one brother, Francis (Susan) Kurtzhals, Coleridge, NE.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Agnes Kurtzhals, sisters, Patricia Gubbels and Phyllis Kirscht, as well as several in-laws.