Burial: St. Paul’s Cemetery, Arlington, NE

Findagrave Memorial: 51758431

(Photo)

The Pilot Tribune 24 June 2008

Viola M. Bluma, 88

Viola M. Bluma, 88, of Arlington died Sunday, June 22, 2008, at A.J. Merrick Manor in Fremont.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Interment will be at the St. Paul’s Cemetery.

Visitation will be 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 24 with family receiving friends 6-8 p.m., at Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home in Arlington. Visitation also will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Viola M. “Vi” Culp was born Sept. 24, 1919, in Alliance to Harold and Emilie (Lobeda) Culp. She was born and raised in Alliance, and also lived in Portland, Ore., before moving to Lincoln. She graduated from Lincoln High School. After graduation she worked at a dental office in Lincoln.

On August 24, 1941, she married George W. Bluma at Lincoln. After their marriage, they lived in Omaha for one year, and then moved to Arlington in 1942. Mrs. Bluma worked as a secretary at St. Paul’s Lutheran School. She volunteered for many years at the Arlington Public Library.

She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League at St. Paul’s for more that 60 years. She was also a member of the Arlington Lions Club.

She is survived by her husband, George, of Arlington; sons and daughters-in-law Stanley and Sondra Bluma of Omaha and Stephen and Ruth Ann Bluma of Baschor, Kansas; three daughters and sons in law, Judith and Charles Wilsey of Fremont, Kathleen and Roger Nettleton of Kirksville, Mo. and Jane and Gale Breitkreutz of Seattle, Wash.; a half sister, Barbara Loomis of Portland, Ore.; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother Alvin Culp.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran School or the Arlington Public Library.

From funeral leaflet

Obituary:

Viola Mae Bluma was born September 24, 1919 at Alliance, NE, to Harold and Emilie (Lobeda) Culp. She grew up at Alliance, NE, Portland, OR and Lincoln, NE.

After graduating from Lincoln High School, she worked at a dental office in Lincoln. Vi married Geoge W. Bluma on August 24, 1941 at Lincoln, NE. The couple lived at Omaha for one year and then moved to Arlington, NE. She worked as a secretary at St. Paul’s Lutheran School and also volunteered at the Arlington Public Library for many years. Vi was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Arllington; the Lutheran Womens Missionary League for over 60 years and a member of the Arlington Lions Club.

Vi passed from this life on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at A.J. Merrick Manor in Fremont, NE at the age of 88 years, 8 months and 29 days. She is survived by her husband, George; sons & daughters-in-law, Stanley & Sondra Bluma of Omaha, NE and Stephen & Ruth Ann Bluma of Basehor, KS; daughters & sons-in-law, Judith & Charles Wilsey of Fremont, NE, Kathleen & Roger Nettleton of Kirksville, MO and Jane & Gale Breitkreutz of Seattle, WA; half-sister, Barbara Loomis of Portland, OR; 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Alvin Culp.

The family of Vi Bluma would like to thank you for your kindness and sympathy and invite you to lunch in the parish hall immediately following the committal service.

In Memory of Viola M. “Vi” Bluma September 24, 1919 Alliance, Nebraska; June 22, 2008 Fremont, Nebraska

Funeral Service 10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 25, 2008 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Arlington, Nebraska Officiating: The Rev. Rick Kanoy Congregational Hymns: “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”; “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”; “A Faithful Shepherd Is My Lord”; “The Strife Is O’er, The Battle Done”; Joyce Dunklau, Organist

Honorary Pallbearers: Great-Grandchildren: Brett Bluma, Brady Bluma, Brice Bluma; Tyler Synovec, Trevor Synovec; Christopher Wilsey, Joshua Wilsey

Pallbearers: Grandchildren: Mark Wilsey, Matthew Wilsey, Michele Synovec, Jennifer Bluma, Jeff Bluma, Stephanie Bluma, Jaime Bluma, Marc Bluma, Jason Nettleton, Sarah Nettleton, Erich Breitkreutz

Interment: St. Paul’s Cemetery, Arlington, Nebraska

Arrangements by Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home, Arlington, Nebraska.

“In Loving Memory of Viola Mae Bluma, September 24, 1919 – June 22, 2008”

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10

Vi graced our family and community for 88 years. A beloved wife, grandmother and great-grandmother, Viola will be remembered for the constancy of her love, kindness, humility and faith.

Viola Culp was born on September 24, 1919 in Alliance, Nebraska to Harold and Emily Augusta (Lobeda0 Culp. At the age of five, after the death of her mother, she moved to Lincoln where she and her brother Alvin were raised by her Aunt Louise and Uncle George Meyer.

Vi grew up in Lincoln, graduating from Lincoln High School and working in the city at a dentist’s office. While in Lincoln, she met and in 1941 married George Bluma. The couple lived in Omaha for one year before George accepted a call to teach at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Arlington, Nebraska. Vi and George left the city for life on five acres near the East School. Vi, who had spent her life in the city, quickly learned to tend the woodstove, grow a garden and care for the animals. Most importantly, she raised five children Judith, Stanley, Steen, Kathleen and Jane.

Not only was Vi a caring mother, but she also touched the lives of hundreds of children at St. Paul as the unofficial school secretary, nurse and sometimes cook. She typed countless school work sheets, programs and newsletters. At Christmas, her steam burgers (or sloppy joes) became a tradition. She was known for her kind heart as she bandaged many skinned knees, mended many pairs of pants and soothed many sick children.

Vi remained active in the St. Paul and Arlington communities after George’s retirement in 1981. She was a long-time member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, and she was often found in the church kitchen patiently taking care of what most needed to be done, from cleaning dishes to washing floors. She was active in the Lion’s Club, lending her talents to dinners, breakfasts and other events to raise needed funds. George and Vi also took an active role expanding the Arlington Library, and for many years they spent almost every Friday there volunteering their time and love of books.

Vi was a grandmother to eleven and great-grandmother to seven. No matter how far her grandsons and granddaughters traveled, they knew that Grandma would also have their favorite dessert—whether it was chocolate roll or banana cream pie—ready and waiting for them. They were always on the lookout for letters and more recently e-mails reminding them of all the reasons they come home for holidays throughout the year. Upon request, children and grandchildren were presented with an afghan (often more than one) handmade by grandma.

Vi, whose name means violet, raised purple and blue flowers throughout her life. They were always found growing in the sunlight streaming through her windows. The violet is said to represent a pledge of faithfulness. It is Vi’s 88 years as a faithful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and servant of our Lord that we all cherish.

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