Wilma Jean Lohse1
F, b. 29 October 1940, d. 28 July 2015
| Father | Paul Lohse1 d. 9 May 1962 |
| Mother | Margaret Wulff1 b. 14 Apr 1916, d. 15 Jun 2011 |
Wilma Jean Lohse, daughter of Paul Lohse and Margaret Wulff, was born on 29 October 1940 at Odell, Gage County, Nebraska.1 She married Donald Banahan on 9 July 1961 at Hollenberg, Washington County, Kansas.1
Second, Wilma married William Laue in 1978 at Hanover, Washington County, Kansas.1
Wilma died Her obituary reads as follows:
On a cool, fall day in October 1940, a little girl was born to Paul and Margaret (Wulff) Lohse, in Odell, Nebraska. They named her Wilma Jean and she celebrated her birthday each year on October 29.
When she was a young child, she was baptized into the Lutheran faith and was confirmed at the Stateline Zion Lutheran Church. Her faith was important to her and helped her through her many trials in life. Wilma began Kindergarten at the "Sunflower" school east of Hollenberg, Kansas and then transferred to Hollenberg Schools where she graduated with three other girls in the class of 1958. fter graduating, she began a short career at Sears Roebuck in Beatrice and Fremont, Nebraska.
It was then that she met her first husband, Donald Banahan. They were joined in marriage on July 9th, 1961 in Hollenberg at Redeemer Lutheran Church. They resided on Don's father's (George) farm near Steele City, Nebraska, where they raised registered Herefords and worked side by side farming the land.
They became the parents of a daughter, Cheryl Kay and a son, Merlin Paul during those years. In 1969, they purchased the home place that Wilma had grown up on near Hollenberg and continued to farm and raise their prize winning Herefords. They were members of the Nebraska Hereford Association and sold many purebred bulls and heifers. Wilma always had a big garden and plenty of chickens to butcher.
Then one hot August day in 1975, Don was injured in a farm accident and died a week later. Wilma became the sole provider. She worked so hard on the farm and made sure that her children had what they needed while also working at the Fairbury Sale Barn Cafe every Tuesday. She kept the home fires burning and also helped coach the Steele City Grade School girls volleyball team, taught Sunday School, was a member of the Jefferson County 4-H Council and Extension Board and served on church council.
In 1978, Wilma married Bill Laue at Zion Lutheran Church in Hanover, Kansas. They continued to reside on the farm and Bill added a few horses, mules, and coon dogs. Bill and Wilma hauled a lot of fertilizer those first few years and enjoyed a coon hunt in between running the gas station in Hanover. Wilma was a member of the Widowettes, (coon hunters wives club) and made many biscuits and gravy for the coon hunters after their hunts in the early morning hours. She also helped Vern and Mary Jo Gaston with their catering service. Wilma was the secretary for the Blue Valley Beef Revue for years and she was the first woman president of the Jefferson County Fair Board. She was also a member of the Legion Auxiliary at Hanover, KS. Wilma was honored in 1995 with the Jefferson County Agricultural Award, being the first woman to receive it. It was an award she was very proud of and well deserved of.
When asked how she wanted to be remembered she stated, "I hope they remember that I was an active member of my community." She definitely was and will be remembered by so many. But she will also be remembered as a hardworking, loving mother and friend. Wilma was diagnosed with MS in 2001 and was told she had been living with it for 10-15 years before being diagnosed. Wilma served on the FSA Board until she could no longer attend meetings. Wilma became a resident of Gardenside Long Term Care in June 2012. She enjoyed attending church services, Bible Study, playing cards and numerous activities. She was even named the Valentine Queen in 2013. Wilma always had deep faith in her Lord Savior and was singing her favorite hymns and praying the Lord's Prayer until the end. There was only one thing that could stop this woman...MS. It took its toll on July 28, 2015.
Wilma is survived by her husband Bill Laue also a resident of Gardenside, her daughter, Cheryl Hart and husband, Bernie of Bassett, Nebraska, her son, Merlin and wife, Terri of Greenwood, Florida, 3 granddaughters, tailor Hart of Lincoln, Nebraska, Jennifer Cox and husband, David of Austin, Texas, and Alaina Lester of Dothan, Alabama, 3 grandsons, Justin Banahan of Naples, Florida, Anthony Banahan of Naples, Florida and Justin Lester and wife, Jennifer of Greenwood, Florida, 5 great grandchildren, 3 step-children, Tracy Laue, Manhattan, KS, LaDonna Sedlacek, Hanover, KS and Greg Laue, Hanover, KS and numerous step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren, and an abundance of friends and relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Margaret Lohse Schwartz and step father, Joe Schwartz, a baby brother, Harlan and a baby sister, Sarah, her grandparents, August and Dorthea Lohse and Fred and Maggie Wulff, her husband, Donald, and two step-sons, Dan and Doug Laue.
A memorial service to honor Wilma's life will be held August 2, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, in Fairbury, NE with Pastor Charles Schmidt officiating. Even at the end of her earthly life, she wanted to help others. Her body has been donated to the University of Nebraska Medical Center so they may learn more about MS. And that, my friends, is the life of Wilma Banahan Laue. What a gal!
On 28 July 2015 at Fairbury, Jefferson County, Nebraska, at age 74 years, 8 months and 29 days.1
Second, Wilma married William Laue in 1978 at Hanover, Washington County, Kansas.1
Wilma died Her obituary reads as follows:
On a cool, fall day in October 1940, a little girl was born to Paul and Margaret (Wulff) Lohse, in Odell, Nebraska. They named her Wilma Jean and she celebrated her birthday each year on October 29.
When she was a young child, she was baptized into the Lutheran faith and was confirmed at the Stateline Zion Lutheran Church. Her faith was important to her and helped her through her many trials in life. Wilma began Kindergarten at the "Sunflower" school east of Hollenberg, Kansas and then transferred to Hollenberg Schools where she graduated with three other girls in the class of 1958. fter graduating, she began a short career at Sears Roebuck in Beatrice and Fremont, Nebraska.
It was then that she met her first husband, Donald Banahan. They were joined in marriage on July 9th, 1961 in Hollenberg at Redeemer Lutheran Church. They resided on Don's father's (George) farm near Steele City, Nebraska, where they raised registered Herefords and worked side by side farming the land.
They became the parents of a daughter, Cheryl Kay and a son, Merlin Paul during those years. In 1969, they purchased the home place that Wilma had grown up on near Hollenberg and continued to farm and raise their prize winning Herefords. They were members of the Nebraska Hereford Association and sold many purebred bulls and heifers. Wilma always had a big garden and plenty of chickens to butcher.
Then one hot August day in 1975, Don was injured in a farm accident and died a week later. Wilma became the sole provider. She worked so hard on the farm and made sure that her children had what they needed while also working at the Fairbury Sale Barn Cafe every Tuesday. She kept the home fires burning and also helped coach the Steele City Grade School girls volleyball team, taught Sunday School, was a member of the Jefferson County 4-H Council and Extension Board and served on church council.
In 1978, Wilma married Bill Laue at Zion Lutheran Church in Hanover, Kansas. They continued to reside on the farm and Bill added a few horses, mules, and coon dogs. Bill and Wilma hauled a lot of fertilizer those first few years and enjoyed a coon hunt in between running the gas station in Hanover. Wilma was a member of the Widowettes, (coon hunters wives club) and made many biscuits and gravy for the coon hunters after their hunts in the early morning hours. She also helped Vern and Mary Jo Gaston with their catering service. Wilma was the secretary for the Blue Valley Beef Revue for years and she was the first woman president of the Jefferson County Fair Board. She was also a member of the Legion Auxiliary at Hanover, KS. Wilma was honored in 1995 with the Jefferson County Agricultural Award, being the first woman to receive it. It was an award she was very proud of and well deserved of.
When asked how she wanted to be remembered she stated, "I hope they remember that I was an active member of my community." She definitely was and will be remembered by so many. But she will also be remembered as a hardworking, loving mother and friend. Wilma was diagnosed with MS in 2001 and was told she had been living with it for 10-15 years before being diagnosed. Wilma served on the FSA Board until she could no longer attend meetings. Wilma became a resident of Gardenside Long Term Care in June 2012. She enjoyed attending church services, Bible Study, playing cards and numerous activities. She was even named the Valentine Queen in 2013. Wilma always had deep faith in her Lord Savior and was singing her favorite hymns and praying the Lord's Prayer until the end. There was only one thing that could stop this woman...MS. It took its toll on July 28, 2015.
Wilma is survived by her husband Bill Laue also a resident of Gardenside, her daughter, Cheryl Hart and husband, Bernie of Bassett, Nebraska, her son, Merlin and wife, Terri of Greenwood, Florida, 3 granddaughters, tailor Hart of Lincoln, Nebraska, Jennifer Cox and husband, David of Austin, Texas, and Alaina Lester of Dothan, Alabama, 3 grandsons, Justin Banahan of Naples, Florida, Anthony Banahan of Naples, Florida and Justin Lester and wife, Jennifer of Greenwood, Florida, 5 great grandchildren, 3 step-children, Tracy Laue, Manhattan, KS, LaDonna Sedlacek, Hanover, KS and Greg Laue, Hanover, KS and numerous step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren, and an abundance of friends and relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Margaret Lohse Schwartz and step father, Joe Schwartz, a baby brother, Harlan and a baby sister, Sarah, her grandparents, August and Dorthea Lohse and Fred and Maggie Wulff, her husband, Donald, and two step-sons, Dan and Doug Laue.
A memorial service to honor Wilma's life will be held August 2, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, in Fairbury, NE with Pastor Charles Schmidt officiating. Even at the end of her earthly life, she wanted to help others. Her body has been donated to the University of Nebraska Medical Center so they may learn more about MS. And that, my friends, is the life of Wilma Banahan Laue. What a gal!
On 28 July 2015 at Fairbury, Jefferson County, Nebraska, at age 74 years, 8 months and 29 days.1
Family 1: Donald Banahan d. 1975
Family 2: William Laue
Citations
- [S1439] Find A Grave, online http://www.findagrave.com, Memorial page for Wilma Jean Lohse Laue (29 Oct 1940–28 Jul 2015), Find A Grave Memorial no. 150506668, ; Maintained by Mae (contributor 47033251) Body donated to medical science, who reports a University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Last Edited=23 Mar 2020