Lambert F. Hopken

A Funeral Service for Lambert will be held on Friday, December 27, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the 1st Congregational United Church of Christ. Pastor Stuart Davis will officiate the service. A Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held at the Geneva Public Cemetery following the Funeral Service. Visitation will be Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva. Memorials are suggested to the Geneva Rescue Squad or the Geneva Legion Baseball program. Lambert Frederick Hopken was born on September 23, 1928 at the family home two miles north of Ohiowa, NE to Bernard and Ella (Wolfteich) Hopken. He passed away December 20, 2019 at Morton Place in Nebraska City, NE. He was baptized March 10, 1929 at the Lutheran Church south of Ohiowa. He was confirmed April 18, 1943 in Shickley, NE. He attended country schools at Ohiowa, Strang, and Martland through the 10th grade. Lambert graduated from Geneva High School in 1946. He helped with the family farming and farmed some for himself. During WWII, he played baseball with the Geneva Legion. After Legion baseball, he was then able to play town team baseball. Lambert was drafted into the US Army on June 20, 1951 during the Korean War. (Lambert said it was a War not a Conflict). He received Basic Training at Fort Knox Kentucky with the 32nd tank battalion. After 16 weeks of Basic Training, and 8 weeks of Leadership school, he was sent to Korea on January 12, 1952. While with the 89th tank battalion, attached to the 25th Infantry, there was a need of a clerk typist and Lambert knew how to type. He was then sent to Seoul the next day. After serving 14 months overseas, he was sent to Camp Carson Colorado and given an Honorable discharge on May 28, 1953. He received the Korean Service Medal with 3 bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal (with 2 overseas bars), Good Conduct Medal, and earned the rank of Sergeant, First Class. After returning home, he married Virginia Broman on June 28, 1953 at the Fairmont Methodist Church. To them 4 children were born, Janet, Karen, Larry and Linda. They made their home in the Martland and Geneva area. Lambert loved to farm even when there were times of challenge. He farmed all of his life and was often “out at the quonset” south of town. He loved to play baseball and throw horseshoes. Lambert was also a sanctioned horseshoe pitcher and Lambert and Virginia went to several horseshoe State tournaments. He was very proud of all of his grandchildren and their accomplishments. He loved visiting and seeing them any time he could. He enjoyed attending Lauren and Leyton’s events, hardly ever missing any. Lambert was a past commander of the VFW. He was also a member of the Geneva American Legion, where he participated in the Honor Guard and was instrumental with the placing of the flags at the courthouse and cemetery. He was very active in the Grange and was a Grange Master. After he retired from farming, he served as the Veterans Service Officer for Fillmore County. He was a member of the Congregational church for over 60 years. Lambert was preceded in death by his wife Virginia, his parents, sister LaNora Headrick, sister Virjean (Waldo) Schinzel, sister-in-law Helen (Glen) Van Andel, and sister-in-law Lora Broman. He is survived by his son Larry (Lisa) of Geneva; daughters Janet Walter of Martinsville, IN; Karen Jeske of Bloomington, MN; and Linda (Kent) Stauffer of Indianapolis, IN; grandchildren Amanda Walter, Anton, Hannah, and Caleb Jeske, Lauren (Ethan) Aschenbrenner, Leyton Hopken, Dillon and Sydney Stauffer, brother-in-laws Allen (Pat) Headrick and Ralph Broman, and also his dear friend Carolyn Krause.

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Lambert F. Hopken

September 23, 1928 - December 20, 2019