Norma Hemmer, 91, of Columbus died Thursday, August 8, 2024, at Brookestone Acres in Columbus.
Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at St. Isidore Catholic Church. There will be a CDA rosary at the church at 4:30 p.m. Monday with visitation to follow from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. There will be a vigil service Monday at the church at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue Tuesday from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at the church. Burial is in All Saints Cemetery.
Norma was born December 31, 1932, to Milo and Marie (Vstecka) Herink in their rural Colfax County home in the Bissel Community Northwest of Schuyler. She was baptized at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in the Wilson community. Norma received her first Holy Communion and Confirmation at St. Bonaventure in Columbus. She grew up in the Colfax and Platte County area and attended St. Francis school and then graduated from Humphrey High School with the class of 1949. She received her teaching certificate from Wayne State College and taught at District 77 in Platte County North of Columbus – a school she herself once attended. She also worked several years at B-D Medical.
On January 21st, 1952, Norma married Everett Hemmer at St. Bonaventure Church. They lived in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania while Everett completed his tour of duty in the armed forces. After August of 1953, they made their home on the Hemmer family farm west of Humphrey. It was there, their four children were born and raised. Norma enjoyed life on the farm, helping her husband and family with livestock and dairy chores; teaching and enjoying her children as they grew up. She raised large gardens of vegetables and flowers. She enjoyed canning, baking, cooking and sewing. For many years, she baked and decorated beautiful wedding and all occasions cakes. She enjoyed the friendship and fun of playing cards with a neighborhood group on the farm and later in town after retiring. She and her husband moved to Columbus in 1995 and retired from their farm work. Norma was an active member of St. Isidore Catholic Church and a member of the Christian Mothers Society where she sewed and embroidered for the church serving group. She was also a member of Catholic Daughters of America, where she led rosaries and was a member of the prayer line. She watched with much pride as all her five grandchildren completed their college educations.
Norma spent many hours caring for her husband at home and then at a care facility after he became disabled with poor health. He passed away in January of 2015.
In her retirement, Norma enjoyed her flowers and a well-groomed yard until she could no longer do it herself. In her home, a beautiful collection of colorful rosaries hung from a wooden rack on her bedroom wall in tribute to our “Blessed Mother Mary”, whose picture is hung nearby. Recitation of the rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy were an important time of her day. During the last two years of Norma's life which was spent in a motorized wheelchair, she designed, colored, and decorated sacks of love for Tabitha Healthcare in Lincoln, NE. These sacks of love were used to deliver Meals on Wheels to elderly residents in Lincoln. Norma colored over 1000 different sacks of love which also contained a Bible verse in each one, bringing joy to each person who received them.
Norma’s family would like to thank Pro Med Care, Brookestone Acres, and St. Croix Hospice for the exceptional care they provided to Norma.
Norma is survived by:
Son: Francis Hemmer of Humphrey
Son: Marvin Hemmer of Humphrey
Daughter: Sharon (Greg) Klug of Columbus
Daughter: Monica (Jeff) Kavan of Lincoln
Grandchildren: Dr. Michael (Laura) Klug of Omaha
Ryan (Alicia) Klug of Lincoln
Dr. Jenna Klug of Seattle, WA
Cory (Kait) Kavan of Lincoln
Kelly (Clay) Warren of Omaha
Great Grandchildren: Noah Klug, Emelia Klug, Ellie Klug, Kasen Klug, Kennedy Klug, Caroline Klug, Cole Klug, Rose Kavan, and Louis Kavan
Brothers: Milo (Rita) Herink of Humphrey
Allen (Jane) Herink of Pewaukee, WI
Sisters: Loretta Wegener of Madison
Lorraine Balister of Germantown, WI
Good Friend: Joan Kasik of Lincoln
She is preceded in death by:
Her husband Everett (2015)
Father: Milo Herink (1949)
Mother: Marie Herink Glish (2009)
Step father: Andrew Glish (1980)
Sister: Mary (Bernard) Dohmen
Brother: Arlen Herink (2022)
Brother-in-law: Michael Balister
In Laws: Guido (Catherine) Hemmer
Gerald (Evelyn), Gene (Loretta), Glenn (Emmi), Wilfred (Romana), and Sr Eleanor, OFM
Special Friends: Mildred Miksch and Regina Egger
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