Judith "Judy" Dee Schmeling
January 9, 2012
Judy was born on January 26, 1940 in Hays, Kansas to Laurence and Esther 'Ring' Harbaugh and was raised in Natoma and Russell, Kansas. Judy graduated from Natoma High School before moving to Grand Island, Nebraska. Judy was working in Grand Island, where she met and married Dean Schmeling in 1964. After briefly living in Mississippi and Oklahoma, they moved to Elkhorn, Nebraska in 1968. Judy worked at Grant's department store, Aksarben Race Track, and at Elkhorn Public School. She devoted much of her time at Thomas Fitzgerald Veterans Home doing laundry and socializing with the veterans where she loved to play bingo and led many other activities, but her greatest joy was being a homemaker while her husband was a Field Engineer for Burroughs and Unisys. Judy and Dean retired to Fremont in 2006. Judy was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn and served as Hope Circle President, Sunday school teacher and the church woman treasurer. Retirement brought them to Peace Lutheran Church in Fremont, where they became active members. Judy enjoyed involvement in many community organizations including being a Girl Scout leader for many years, American Legion Auxiliary, a member since 1976, where she held several local and county positions, Family & Community Education Club (Extension Club) and was a member of the Eight/Forty club.
Her interests included, gardening, reading, bird watching, craft, baking, canning and cheering for her favorite sports team, one of which was the Cornhuskers. But above all, her time was most enjoyed when spent with family; she devoted much of her time and energy as a caregiver.
To remember and cherish her memory are her husband of 47 years, Dean W. Schmeling. Five children: Lorraine Kay Sacco (Plattsmouth, NE), Tyrae Ann Brown and husband Ray Brown (Kenosha, WI), Wendy McGrath and husband Howard McGrath (Lusby, MD), Mike Thille (Sioux City, IA), & DeAnn Johnson (Fremont, NE). Twelve grandchildren: Laurence Thille, Jamie Lynn Giersdorf, Shane Sacco, Andrew Sacco, Holli O'Keefe, Heather Price, Nathan Brown, David Viger, Dean Viger, Cory McGrath, Michelle Thille, Luke Socha & Austin Johnson. And ten great grandchildren: Eshiah O'Neil, Brandon Asa, Alexis Sacco, Lincoln O'Keefe, Shea O'Keefe, Timothy O'Keefe, Hannah Price, Asa Brown, Kayla Viger, David Viger III. Also surviving is Sister Laureen Kay Burdine (Rogers, AR). She was preceded in death by her parents, Laurence & Esther Harbaugh.
The funeral will be Friday January 13 at 11:00am at Peace Lutheran Church (1/2 mile east of Hwy 275 & Hwy 30 interchange and ¼ south of Hwy 30.) The Rev. Gib Botten will officiate. The committal will be at 2pm on Friday at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Elkhorn. Visitation will be Thursday from 4pm to 8pm with the family receiving friends from 6pm to 8pm at the Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel in Fremont. Visitation will continue 1 hour before the service at the church.
Donations may be sent to Methodist Hospital Hospice 8601 W. Dodge Road, Suite 138 Omaha, NE 68114 or Peace Lutheran Church Women's Faith Circle 2102 North County Road 26 Fremont, NE 68025.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
Obituary Provided By:
1249 E. 23rd St.
Fremont, NE 68025
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