Mass of Christian Burial for Ervin "Erv" Wordekemper age 85 of West Point, NE will be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in West Point, NE with Fr. Steve Emanuel officiating. Interment with Military Honors will be in the St. Michael's Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Nielsen Community Center. Visitation will be on Monday from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Minnick Funeral Home in West Point and will continue at St. Mary's Catholic Church from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with a Vigil Service and Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:30 p.m. at the church.
Ervin (Erv) Wordekemper went to his eternal reward at Premier Estates in West Point on Saturday, April 28th. Erv was a quiet man with a big heart. He loved God, his wife and family. He worked hard all his life to support his family and to teach his kids by example to grow up to be good Christian men and women. His kids always knew there was love in Daddy’s hands. Erv always had a smile and loved to give people a hard time – “Glad you got to see me” was heard often. He loved the outdoors – gardening, especially his roses, and fishing. He also loved working with wood making bookcases, birdhouses and nativity cribs for his family.
Ervin Conrad Wordekemper was born on April 14, 1933 to Ben and Elizabeth (Kreikemeier) Wordekemper on the farm near Aloys, NE. Erv attended grade school in Aloys and graduated from Guardian Angels in 1951. He attended DeVry Institute in Chicago and worked at Marshalls Department Store and then went on to serve in the Army from 1953 to 1955. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to farming. On December 27, 1958, he married Margaret Ortmeier at St. Anthony’s Church, St. Charles. The first 25 years of their marriage were spent on the farm west of West Point, where they raised 10 children while Erv farmed, fed cattle & hogs and sold feed and seed. Throughout his time on the farm, Erv served on the Elkhorn Township Board. In 1984, they moved to West Point and Erv worked for Maurice Hannon & Midwest Genetics. In 1995, he went to work for Prinz Grain until his retirement.
Throughout his life, Erv was very active in Knights of Columbus as a member of both the 3rd and 4th Degrees serving as Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator. He was proud to be a life member of the VFW serving as VFW Commander and enjoyed working with the VFW stand at the Cuming County Fair.
Family was important to Erv. He attended many of his children and grandchildren’s events
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Erv is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret, and children:
Diane (Randy) Dirkschneider of West Point - Amber (Andy) Prusa - RJ & Kaitlyn,
Sherri (Bob) Wortman of West Point - Jessica (Brett) Wobken - Mckenzie & Zane; Nicki Wortman; Rachel (Aaron)Prinz–Henry; Jon Wortman (Amanda Chamberlain),
Nancy Wordekemper of Omaha
Joan (Ralph) Batenhorst of Omaha - Andrea Batenhorst; Ben (Emily) Batenhorst; Katie Batenhorst
Mark (Connie) Wordekemper of Georgetown, TX – Marissa (Samuel) Garlitz – Jonathan & Elianna; Zachary Wordekemper; Brisa Wordekemper
Lisa (Glenn) Kee – Sarah; Maggie
Rick (Lori) Wordekemper of Lincoln – Elise; Brock; Julia
Geri (Bill) Schmidt of Omaha – Nate; Josh; Erin; Sydney; Alex; Mariah; Jamie; Rachel
Ron Wordekemper of Houston, TX – Melissa Niedfelt; Stephanie (Craig) Gertsch–Embry, Tobin
Mike (Tina Steffen) Wordekemper of LaVista – Brittany; Nicholas
Sisters, Dorothy Knobbe, Dodge, & Bernie Oligmueller, West Point, and sister-in-law Sally Wordekemper, West Point
Erv was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Elizabeth, Loren Wegner, brothers Joe and Tom Wordekemper, sister Veronica Reiman, in-laws Mary Ann Wordekemper, Art Knobbe, Frances Oligmueller, Gene Reiman and Gene Kalina.
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