Verda J. Schoenbeck Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Funeral Services for Verda will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in rural Tobias, Nebraska with Pastor Ryan Meyer officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at Farmer & Son Funeral Home - Kotas Chapel in Milligan, Nebraska from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting public from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Memorials are to be directed to the family for a later designation. Graveside Service will be held following the funeral service in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery. Verda Jean (Henk) Schoenbeck age 89 years, 9 months, and 11 days went to her heavenly home on Saturday, March 11th, 2017 at Gardenside Nursing Home in Fairbury, NE. She was born at home on the family farm southeast of Western, NE on May 27, 1927 to Emil and Maria (Krajnik) Henk. She was the second oldest of four children. Verda was baptized July 3, 1927 at St. John’s Evangelical Church in Western, NE by Pastor Walter Dickmann and confirmed on April 6th, 1941 by Pastor Martin Peper. Her confirmation verse was 1 Peter 5:7. She attended grade school in a rural, one-room school house near her family home and graduated with the class of 1944 from Western Public High School at the age of sixteen. After high school, Verda attended school in Omaha where she learned how to dismantle radios and do teletyping. She then joined the work force doing teletyping at the Bruning Air Base. When the air base closed, she worked for a short time in Grand Island and later returned to work for Dr. Duba’s dental practice in Western. While she was a junior in high school, she met Vernon Schoenbeck, and they were married at St. John’s parsonage in Western on April 27th, 1946. They were blessed with two daughters, Judy and Jean. Verda was very devoted to her faith and was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church of rural Tobias. She was also a faithful member of the church’s Ladies Aid. Verda dedicated her life to her family and the farm. She played an active role in helping Vernon in every aspect. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed canning or freezing their rewards. She also enjoyed her flowers. Verda loved to sew, knit, and quilt. She made many beautiful quilts and enjoyed helping others do the same. Some of her other interests were the Red Hats of Tobias, bowling, fishing, and playing cards. Vernon and Verda were avid sports fans, especially when their grandchildren were involved. They spent many years following them to a variety of sporting events, but were especially fond of their baseball and softball games. Even when their grandchildren graduated, their red van was well-known at area ballfields supporting their local teams. Verda will be remembered as a loving, hardworking, Christian woman who was very dedicated to her family. Verda was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon; parents; brothers Boyd Henk and wife Alta, and Ronnie Henk; sister JoAnn Meyer and husband Merle; brothers-in-law Earl Ziemann, Edwin Schoenbeck and wife Lydia; and sister-in-law Iona Bartels. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Judy and husband Jim Stewart of Western, NE, and Jean and husband Jack Sobotka of Daykin, NE; grandchildren Jeff Stewart and fiancé Holly Barta of Western, NE, Jason Stewart and wife Jill of Daykin, NE, Scott Sobotka and wife Wendee of Tobias, NE, Matt Sobotka of Lincoln, NE, and Tami Filipi and husband Neal of Tobias, NE; great grandchildren Natalie Barta, Cheston and Kyson Stewart of Western, NE, Jaala and Jetta Stewart of Daykin, NE, Jaicee, Josiee, and Jaylee Sobotka of Tobias, NE, Morgan and Mason Sobotka of Lincoln, NE, and Taelyn, Kendall, and Preston Filipi of Tobias, NE; brother-in-law Walter Bartels of Albuquerque, NM; sister-in-law Elaine Henk of Williamsburg, VA; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. She will be truly missed by all.

Tributes

Verda J. Schoenbeck

May 27, 1927 - March 11, 2017