Walter Rempel
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Walter Gerhard Rempel, age 90 of Henderson, Nebraska, entered into his Eternal Home on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at Henderson. Walter was born on August 17, 1929 to Gerhard T and Olga (Regier) Rempel on their farm home west of Henderson. He spent most of his youth on a farm south of Hampton, playing with his sisters and brother, building tractors from wooden spools and wire, developing his joy of farming early in life. Dad attended District 37 Country School through the 8th Grade and attended one semester of high school, after which he helped his father with custom combining and the neighbors as hired farm help. Upon his confession of faith, Dad was baptized in May 1947 by Rev. A.W. Friesen and became a lifelong member of Bethesda Mennonite Church, where he served as an usher and sang in the male chorus.
Dad fell in love with the girl sitting in the north balcony at church and married Arlene Friesen on August 31, 1950. They began their life of farming together and raised five children, Joyce, Carol, LaVerne, Connie, and Lynette, on their farm south of Aurora. Dad did custom silage cutting and corn shelling in his early years, as well as blacksmith work, building mounted plows and pipe trailers. In the late 1970’s, he began custom trucking, sold grain handling equipment, and began a dozer and land leveling business. One project he was always proud of is the construction of the lake at Lakeview Park in Henderson in 1977. Dad never had an idle moment and was always dreaming of the next thing he could undertake. And all this while farming, enjoying visits with family and friends, churning homemade ice cream, and taking family spur-of-the-moment camping trips.
In 1991, they moved to Henderson while he continued to farm until 1997. When he retired, that did not mean he sat still. He was a handyman, always tinkering or fixing something. While mom worked as a CNA at the Henderson Nursing Home, he volunteered many hours of maintenance and remodeling work at the facility. He also enjoyed working for Burton Enterprises in recycling and sanitation. Together mom and dad enjoyed many miles on their Harley Davidson motorcycle, winter motorhome trips to Texas, and made many friends along the way. He enjoyed food and cooking, became a grill master, took up bow hunting, and fishing at the cabin at Friesen Dam. Mom taught Dad to crochet and they spent evenings making afghans and scarves. He was kind and warmhearted and fun-loving and loved being with people. In 2004, mom died of Mesothelioma cancer. They enjoyed 54 years of loving married life. Dad’s strong faith in God and the support of pastors, family, and friends carried him through this difficult time. After mom’s death, dad assisted Metz Mortuary in Henderson with visitations and funerals.
Dad married Anna Flemming in 2005. They enjoyed a little slower pace of life spending time at the cabin, motorhome winters in Texas, visiting friends and family, reading, and enjoyed each other’s companionship. Dad suffered a stroke in March 2015, leaving him paralyzed on his left side, unable to return home. They moved to Primrose Retirement Community in Grand Island, and recently to the Legacy Square Care Center. The love they shared, their faith, laughter and perseverance, carried them through these later years.
Dad has been dearly loved and will be dearly missed by his wife, Anna, children: Joyce (Ron) Friesen of Lincoln, Carol (Royce) Janzen of Henderson, LaVerne (Lynda) Rempel of Aurora, Connie Friesen of Wichita, KS, Lynette (Rod) Jost of Sheridan, WY; 14 grandchildren: Michelle (Keith) Kennedy of Johnstown, CO, Joel (Mary) Friesen of Lincoln, NE, Rick (Brittany) Friesen of Papillion, NE, Jay Dee (Wendy) Janzen, Brad (Kara) Janzen, Scott (Christa) Janzen, all of Henderson, Jarrod (Sarah) Rempel of Athens, IL, Tyler (Marie) Rempel of Avon, OH, Kelsey (Seth) McClure of Fairfield, NE, Brandon (Carmen) Friesen of Newton, KS, Travis (Shivani Srivastava) Friesen of Seattle, WA, Jenna (Sam) Van Aswegen of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Josh (Rachel) Jost of Salt Lake City, UT, Allie (Drew) Pankratz of Saratoga Springs, UT; 32 great-grandchildren; Step-children Kathy (Don) Cushing of Harvard, NE, Terry (Khris) Kauk of Valley Center, KS, Tom (Dianna) Kauk of McCook, NE; brothers and sisters-in-law LeRoy V. & Marion Friesen of Henderson, Dennis & Kathy Unruh of Stillwater, OK; many very special nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Arlene; sisters and brothers-in-law Esther & Pete Wall, Elizabeth & Levi H. Friesen, brother and sister-in-law John & Lorene Rempel, and John’s second wife Deloris Goertzen-Rempel, son-in-laws Calvin Epp and Melvin Friesen, great-grandson Caleb Friesen.
The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the employees and health care workers of Primrose Retirement Community and Henderson Health Care Services for your compassionate care, friendship and love for him. A special thank you to his pastors for their prayers and visits over the years.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, private family funeral services will be held at the Bethesda Mennonite Church, Henderson at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 19, 2020 with the church live streaming services for the public. Private burial will take place in the Bethesda Cemetery, Henderson. Public visitation will be from 1:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Metz Mortuary in Henderson. No family gathering that evening. Face masks encouraged at the mortuary. Memorials may be directed to Bethesda Mennonite Church or to Legacy Square.
Dad fell in love with the girl sitting in the north balcony at church and married Arlene Friesen on August 31, 1950. They began their life of farming together and raised five children, Joyce, Carol, LaVerne, Connie, and Lynette, on their farm south of Aurora. Dad did custom silage cutting and corn shelling in his early years, as well as blacksmith work, building mounted plows and pipe trailers. In the late 1970’s, he began custom trucking, sold grain handling equipment, and began a dozer and land leveling business. One project he was always proud of is the construction of the lake at Lakeview Park in Henderson in 1977. Dad never had an idle moment and was always dreaming of the next thing he could undertake. And all this while farming, enjoying visits with family and friends, churning homemade ice cream, and taking family spur-of-the-moment camping trips.
In 1991, they moved to Henderson while he continued to farm until 1997. When he retired, that did not mean he sat still. He was a handyman, always tinkering or fixing something. While mom worked as a CNA at the Henderson Nursing Home, he volunteered many hours of maintenance and remodeling work at the facility. He also enjoyed working for Burton Enterprises in recycling and sanitation. Together mom and dad enjoyed many miles on their Harley Davidson motorcycle, winter motorhome trips to Texas, and made many friends along the way. He enjoyed food and cooking, became a grill master, took up bow hunting, and fishing at the cabin at Friesen Dam. Mom taught Dad to crochet and they spent evenings making afghans and scarves. He was kind and warmhearted and fun-loving and loved being with people. In 2004, mom died of Mesothelioma cancer. They enjoyed 54 years of loving married life. Dad’s strong faith in God and the support of pastors, family, and friends carried him through this difficult time. After mom’s death, dad assisted Metz Mortuary in Henderson with visitations and funerals.
Dad married Anna Flemming in 2005. They enjoyed a little slower pace of life spending time at the cabin, motorhome winters in Texas, visiting friends and family, reading, and enjoyed each other’s companionship. Dad suffered a stroke in March 2015, leaving him paralyzed on his left side, unable to return home. They moved to Primrose Retirement Community in Grand Island, and recently to the Legacy Square Care Center. The love they shared, their faith, laughter and perseverance, carried them through these later years.
Dad has been dearly loved and will be dearly missed by his wife, Anna, children: Joyce (Ron) Friesen of Lincoln, Carol (Royce) Janzen of Henderson, LaVerne (Lynda) Rempel of Aurora, Connie Friesen of Wichita, KS, Lynette (Rod) Jost of Sheridan, WY; 14 grandchildren: Michelle (Keith) Kennedy of Johnstown, CO, Joel (Mary) Friesen of Lincoln, NE, Rick (Brittany) Friesen of Papillion, NE, Jay Dee (Wendy) Janzen, Brad (Kara) Janzen, Scott (Christa) Janzen, all of Henderson, Jarrod (Sarah) Rempel of Athens, IL, Tyler (Marie) Rempel of Avon, OH, Kelsey (Seth) McClure of Fairfield, NE, Brandon (Carmen) Friesen of Newton, KS, Travis (Shivani Srivastava) Friesen of Seattle, WA, Jenna (Sam) Van Aswegen of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Josh (Rachel) Jost of Salt Lake City, UT, Allie (Drew) Pankratz of Saratoga Springs, UT; 32 great-grandchildren; Step-children Kathy (Don) Cushing of Harvard, NE, Terry (Khris) Kauk of Valley Center, KS, Tom (Dianna) Kauk of McCook, NE; brothers and sisters-in-law LeRoy V. & Marion Friesen of Henderson, Dennis & Kathy Unruh of Stillwater, OK; many very special nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Arlene; sisters and brothers-in-law Esther & Pete Wall, Elizabeth & Levi H. Friesen, brother and sister-in-law John & Lorene Rempel, and John’s second wife Deloris Goertzen-Rempel, son-in-laws Calvin Epp and Melvin Friesen, great-grandson Caleb Friesen.
The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the employees and health care workers of Primrose Retirement Community and Henderson Health Care Services for your compassionate care, friendship and love for him. A special thank you to his pastors for their prayers and visits over the years.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, private family funeral services will be held at the Bethesda Mennonite Church, Henderson at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 19, 2020 with the church live streaming services for the public. Private burial will take place in the Bethesda Cemetery, Henderson. Public visitation will be from 1:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Metz Mortuary in Henderson. No family gathering that evening. Face masks encouraged at the mortuary. Memorials may be directed to Bethesda Mennonite Church or to Legacy Square.