Debra Luann Detjens, 58

Debra Luann Detjens, 58, of Blair died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, at Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Scribner, after a long illness with Alzheimer’s.

A gathering of family and friends will take place 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair.

Debra Luann Bowers was born in West Union, Iowa, to Marilyn (Stendel) and Darryl Bowers.

Deb was united in marriage in 1976 to George Drilling, and together they had their only child, a daughter, Cari, born in 1977.

After separating from George, Deb and Cari moved to Blair in 1981 where Deb met her current husband, Russell Detjens.

Deb and Russ were married in 1995, where they lived on a farm a few miles outside of Blair.

Deb drove a school bus for the Blair Community Schools for 16 years. After those years, she began driving a yuke for Fort Calhoun Stone.

Deb loved to garden, and she loved to do most any type of crafts.

Deb is survived by her husband, Russell Detjens of Blair; her daughter Cari (Drew) Sprague of Papillion; three granddaughters: Mallori, Lyndsi and Jenna; three stepgrandsons: Alex, Andrew and Zane; her mother, Marilyn Masters of Blair; her father, Darryl Bowers of McIntire, Iowa; siblings: Jodi Workman and Juli Short, both of Blair, Bob Cortez of Omaha and Robin Otte of Blair; stepchildren: Kim (Joel) Swanson and Rick (Sarah) Detjens of Blair. She is also survived by her sisters: Jeanne, Paula, Sandy, Tina, Tammy and Robin of Iowa, Arizona and Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Carl and Agnes Stendel; her uncle, Robert Stendel; great-aunt Hazel Tope; and grandparents Archie and Emily Bowers.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorials be given to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Omaha World Herald 22 Jan 2015

Detjens, Debra Luann Age 58 Blair. Debra died January 20, 2015 at Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Scribner, after a long illness with Alzheimer's. A GATHERING OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS will take place Saturday, January 24, 2015 from 4-7pm at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorials to the Alzheimer's Association. CAMPBELL-AMAN FUNERAL HOME 444 S. 17th Blair, NE 402-426-2191 www.campbellaman.com

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~