In Memory of

Bernitha

Gemelke

Obituary for Bernitha Gemelke

Funeral services for Bernitha Gemelke age 95 of Beemer, NE formerly of Pilger, NE will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Pilger, NE with interment in the Pilger Cemetery. Pastor Timothy Booth is officiating the service. Visitation will be on Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Colonial Haven/Colonial Courts Chapel in Beemer and will continue from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Pilger, with visitation continuing on Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church. Minnick Funeral Home in Wisner Is in charge of the arrangements for the family.

Bernitha passed away on Friday, June 1, 2018 at the Colonial Haven Nursing Home in Beemer, NE.

Bernitha Frieda Helena was born at rural Pilger to Edward and Beata (Loewe) Hasenkamp on March 23, 1923.
On April 22, 1923, she was baptized into the Lutheran faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Pilger, where she attended Sunday School and Walther League, and was confirmed.
She attended Stanton County rural schools districts #43 and #25, north of Pilger.
She was married to Emil Gemelke on August 30, 1944. The ceremony was held in the original St. John’s Church, with their reception at the home of her parents.
The couple farmed north of Pilger where they raised their family. Upon retirement, they moved to Pilger in the fall of 1982. The couple enjoyed playing cards in various card clubs and dancing. Bernitha also spent time sewing, quilting and doing crafts.
She was a member of the neighborhood Sewing Club and St. John’s Ladies Aid and LWML for more than 60 years. She put up the monthly birthday board for many years at Pilger’s Senior Citizens Center.
Emil passed away on October 3, 2002.
Bernitha continued living in Pilger until she moved to Colonial Courts Assisted Living at Beemer in 2006. In May of 2018, at the age of 95, she moved to Colonial Haven Nursing Home.
Left to cherish her memory are son and wife Duane and Linda Gemelke of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; daughter LaRayne Topp of Wisner; grandchildren and spouses Kristine (Steve) Hanson of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Trish (Bill) Lombard of Inwood, Iowa; Brenda (Harold) Breitkreutz of Wisner, Michael (Emily Strother) Gemelke of Portland, Oregon, Clinton (Hillary) Meyer of Indianola, Iowa, and Nathan (Edina Sarajlic) Gemelke of State College, Pennsylvania; two step-granddaughters, Trisha Johnson and Tracy Topp (Matthew Marsolek), all of Arlee, Montana; 11 great-grandchildren; 5 step-great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; sister Luetta Reuter of Norfolk; brother Wilfred Hasenkamp of Stanton; sister-in-law Joan Hasenkamp of West Point; brother-in-law Bob Brueggeman of Norfolk; and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by parents Edward and Beata Hasenkamp, in-laws Ernst and Louisa (Koehlmoos) Gemelke, husband Emil, son Ronnie, brother Merlin Hasenkamp, sons-in-law Kevin Meyer and Dale Topp; and in-laws Palma Hasenkamp, Calvin Reuter, Herb (Margaret) Gemelke, Gertrude (Floyd) Vollmer, Wilhelma (Ivan) Kemper, Viola Brueggeman, Anita (George) Reimnitz and Mildred (Leo) Janulewicz.