Carolyn did the bookwork for the company, transferring her bookkeeping system to computer before she retired. She was former chairman of the board of the company and then chairman emeritus. She was a nurturing, loving mother to her own five children and to numbers of other children and teenagers who found solace in her home and always sufficient food at her table, no matter how many came for a meal. She was an accomplished pianist and a good tennis player and she could defeat her grandchildren at ping pong into their teenage years. Her grandchildren were great fans of her applesauce, made from her own apple trees, and of her homemade macaroni and cheese. Into her 80s, she tended more than 60 rose bushes and had a large garden and lawn at their retirement home on the farm. She was a talented quilter and created unique quilts for each of her 13 grandchildren. She and Leonard traveled to Europe several times and reconnected with the Brinkmeier and Hogermeier families in Germany. When she was 74, she went on a mission trip to Latvia to teach English.
She sang all her life, in church choirs in Hannibal and at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Scribner where she also taught Sunday School and was president of the Ladies' Aid and of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML). She was also a regional president of LWML. She continued singing at Lakeside Village in Omaha, where she moved in 2003, and at the Millard Good Samaritan Home, where she lived the past three years.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Gertrude Brinkmeier, her husband Leonard Hoegemeyer, her brother Ernest Brinkmeier and her son-in-law Howard Witte. She is survived by her son Tom Hoegemeyer and his wife Linda, of Lincoln, and by her four daughters, Marilyn Hoegemeyer and her husband Pete Hohn, Buffalo, MN; Ann Jarrett and her husband Paul, Knoxville, TN; Sue Stenberg and her husband Don of Gretna, and Nancy Patton and her husband Jim of Elkhorn; and by 15 grandchildren, Stephan Becerra, Joshua Becerra, Sarah Jarrett Balog, Matthew Jarrett; Chris Hoegemeyer, Erik Hoegemeyer, Julie Stenberg LeFeber, Don Stenberg Jr., Joe Stenberg, Abby Stenberg, Carl Witte, Mark Witte, Bryan Witte, John Patton and David Patton and by 24 great grandchildren; by her sister-in-law Alice Hoegemeyer Rasmussen; a nephew Lee Hawks and four nieces, Kathy Hawks, Ruth McMaster, Janice Belohlavy and Nina Kavich; cousins Beverly Orth and Gregory Brinkmeier; Bill Couch and Joe Couch and Bob Freiling.
The funeral will be 10:30 A.M. Monday May 9 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Scribner. The Rev. Bruce Schut will officiate. Burial will follow in the Scribner Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 3pm to 8pm with the family receiving friends from 3pm to 5pm at Ludvigsen's Scribner Funeral Chapel. Visitation will continue 1 hour before the service at the church. Memorials are suggested to St. Peter's Lutheran Church, American Macular Degeneration Foundation (P.O. Box 575 Northampton, MA 01061-0515) and the Good Samaritan Society.
Online guestbook at www.hooper-scribner.com
Condolences(9)
Larry Moeller
Manhattan, KS Monday, May 23, 2011 Dear Hoegemeyers, So sad to hear but so glad to CELEBRATE the life of your Mother/Grandmother. The Whole Hoegemeyer Family was so important and so wonderful to St. Peter's and the community of Scribner when I was growing up there. I will always remember and hear Mrs. Hoegemeyer, Mrs. Wehrman and Mrs. Frischie singing their trio tunes during church. What a heartwarming story Carolyn and Leonard have written, and you all will continue to write your own chapters and become part of the Hoegemeyer Legacy. Heartfelt, Larry Moeller, Manhattan, KSDan, Dave and Barbara Tuchenhagen
, Wednesday, May 11, 2011 "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the Crown of Life." These words from Rev. 2:10 certainly apply to your wonderful mother. How well we remember so many things from our childhood days in Scribner when Carolyn was such a support to St. Peters and its members. And we will never forget that when we needed help to hold a household auction for our grandmother, Gesina Steil, Leonard was the first person to appear and assist early that morning. You can be proud of your Christian parents and and everything they did for their friends and community.Barbara Sappenfield
Tulsa, OK Wednesday, May 11, 2011 I will always remember Carolyn as a kind, generous, loving lady with a smile that would light up the entire room. You are in my thoughts and prayers.Rick Myers
, Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Carolyn lived a full life and enjoyed many hobbies. But I think she clearly loved her family and her family gave her the greatest joy. Her spirit and manner were kind and gentle. She will be missed.Virginia Von Seggern
Orchard, NE Monday, May 9, 2011 Carolyn Hoegemeyer was a delightful, loving and warm, christian lady! I worked with her many times in LWML, and in other areas of church work. She always thought so highly of her church, and her family. Please accept my sincere sympathy at her death. Virginia Von Seggern, past President Lutheran Women's Missionary LeagueStan & Kaye Hale
Omaha, NE Monday, May 9, 2011 We would like to pass along our sincere condolences in the passing of Mrs. Hoegemeyer. I taught and coached at Scribner High School from 1958-62 and got to know the Hoegemeyer family. Mrs. Hoegemeyer was so active and leaves a wonderful family. We will always have warm memories of our stay in Scribner. God Bless.Gary Harvey
Woodbury, MN Sunday, May 8, 2011 to Marilyn and her family, My thoughts are with you. gary harveyCharlene Parks
Walford, IA Friday, May 6, 2011 Carolyn was a very special woman. She always had a positive attitude and a smile. She will be greatly missed.Dorothy Smith
Hooper, NE Friday, May 6, 2011 Although I never met Carolyn, I can tell from her obituary that she greatly shaped the lives of her children and grandchildren. It was not at all common for a woman born 91 years ago to receive her B.S. Education, Christian faith, selfless deeds, and patriotism are obvious foundations for the entire family. Obviously Carolyn was a cornerstone to that foundation. My sympathies to the entire family. God comfort you all. Dorothy Smith