Washington County native

Eleanor K. Mommsen, 84, of Waterloo, died March 29, 2011, at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha. Services were Saturday, April 2, at Reichmuth Funeral Home in Elkhorn. Interment was at the Union Cemetery in Cedar Bluffs.

Eleanor Katherine Lorsch was born Dec. 9, 1926, in Washington County to John and Minnie Lorsch. Her childhood years were spent on the farm 6 miles west of Fort Calhoun. She attended Wranch School and graduated from the 8th grade in 1939.

During her high school years, she moved off the farm and lived with her Aunt Lucy Peterson in Blair, where she graduated in 1943. After high school graduation, she continued to help on the farm, and then moved into Omaha where she lived with her aunt and uncle, Selma and Fred Bowley, and worked at Merchant Biscuit Company.

In 1948, she married Hans Mommsen of Fort Calhoun. Their first years of marriage found the couple moving to several new homes starting in Florence. They lived a short time in Nashville, south of Fort Calhoun. Eventually, they settled on a farm 2 miles south of Waterloo, where Mr. Mommsen farmed for the Renwald family. In 1967, the couple bought a house at auction in Waterloo and moved into town. With the help of family and friends, this house underwent major renovation including the addition of a gable roof. Mr. Mommsen continued to farm on ground south of town while Mrs. Mommsen cared for the family at home and worked at various jobs in the area. In 1992, Mr. Mommsen died, and Mrs. Mommsen remained in Waterloo until her death.

She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Norman and Kazuko of Bennington and Warren and Pat of Yutan; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sister, Dorothy Jackson of Rushville, Mo.

#2 (photo from an obituary in the April 12, 2011 Post-Gazette)

Funeral Leaflet

Eleanor Katherine Lorsch Mommsen was born on December 9, 1926 to parents John and Minnie Lorsch in Washington County, Nebraska. She was the youngest of three children, her older sister being Dorothy and her brother John (or as everyone called him, Bud). Her childhood years were spent on the farm six miles west of Fort Calhoun. She attended Wranch School and graduated from the 8th grade in 1939. During her high school years, she moved off the farm and lived with her Aunt Lucy Peterson in Blair, where she graduated in 1943. After high school graduation, she continued to help on the farm, and then moved into Omaha where she lived with her Aunt Selma and Uncle Fred Bowley, and worked at Merchant Biscuit Company.

Eleanor married Hans Mommsen of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska in 1948. Their first years of marriage found the couple moving to several new homes starting in Florence where Norman Michael was born in 1949. They lived a short time in Nashville south of Fort Calhoun where Warren Dean was born. Eventually, they settled on a farm 2 miles south of Waterloo, Nebraska where Hans farmed for the Renwald family. In 1967, Hans bought a house at auction in Waterloo and moved into town. With the help of family and friends, this house underwent major renovation including the addition of a gable roof. Hans continued to farm on ground south of town while Eleanor cared for the family at home and worked at various jobs in the area. In 1992, Hans died, and Eleanor remained in Waterloo until her passing on March 29, 2011.

Eleanor passed away at the Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 84 years, 3 months and 20 days. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Minnie, her brother John “Bud” Lorsh, and her husband Hans. Eleanor is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Norman and Kazuko of Bennington and Warren and Pat of Yutan; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sister, Dorothy Jackson of Rushville, MO.

In Remembrance of Eleanor K. Mommsen

Birth December 9, 1926 Omaha, Nebraska ~ Death March 29, 2011 Omaha, Nebraska

Funeral Service 10:30 A.M. Saturday, April 2, 2011 Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn, Nebraska. Minister: Reverend Chery Paden. Music by Judy Bardon. Music Selections: “How Great Thou Art”, “Hymn of Promise”

Honorary Bearers: Joe Howard, Edward Mommsen, Rudy Lang, Raghava Potula

Pallbearers: Aaron Adams, Mark Jackson, Ron Carson, Jack Lorsch, Jeff Jackson, Andy Mommsen

Graveside Service: Union Cemetery, Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska Saturday, April 2, 2011 ~ 1 P.M.

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

FindaGrave # 103169060