Lorma L. Wiebe

Lorma Lee Wiebe, 78 Kearney resident Lorma Lee (Kroeker) Wiebe, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and aunt, passed into the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ, on May 16, 2016. A Memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 28, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church in Kearney with the Rev. John Gosswein officiating. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremations Services is in charge of arrangements. Having grown up in rural Nebraska, Lorma may not have realized where life would take her when she married the love of her life, David, son of missionaries to India, on June 23, 1961. Just after David completed medical school in Kansas City where their son David Paul was born, they moved to the Panama Canal Zone where son Eric joined the family. With two small boys in tow, they moved to India where David worked in a mission hospital for two years and Lorma learned about India. Lorma’s love for the people of India was evident through her life as anyone who came for dinner will remember her excellent curries; and she thoroughly enjoyed deep, lifelong friendships among the Indian community in Nebraska. During a brief time in Colorado, Lorma and David’s daughter Kristin was born before the family moved back to the Canal Zone for another three years. In 1973, they drove their Pontiac station wagon up the Pan-American Highway from Panama, through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and finally to Kearney, Nebraska, which would be their home for the next 40+ years. Lorma developed a strong desire for social justice both locally and globally. Her concern and care for all was manifest in her many activities and relationships. Lorma opened the Ten Thousand Villages store, under the original name of Brass and Jute Works, on 24th street, in 1983. Taking no salary, and working primarily with volunteer staff, the store was able to donate more than $130,000 over the years to relief and development projects around the world. Meeting people from near and far was one of her greatest joys throughout the 20 years she managed the store. It became a source of great friendships. Lorma had a wonderful gift of hospitality at home and in the community. She was instrumental in starting the International Student Friendship program at UNK. She taught and played piano beautifully, loved to knit, sing, take long walks, and linger over coffee and conversation with whoever was at the table. She was a faithful member of the Family of Christ Lutheran Church. Lorma was born on June 9, 1937, in Madrid, NE to Henry and Lena Kroeker. She was the third of four children including Alice (b. 1918), Harold (b.1927; d. 2002); and Donna (b.1938). When she was 12 years old, Lorma’s parents and younger sister moved to Reedley, CA, where her father retired. She attended Immanuel High School in California, then Tabor College in Hillsboro, KS where she graduated with a BA in English and teaching. Lorma is survived by her loving husband, David; son David Paul and wife Kendra (Debban) of Lincoln, NE, granddaughters Claire and Victoria; son Eric and wife Kristin (Janzen) of Scottsbluff, NE, grandchildren Ben, Jon and Anna; daughter Kristin and husband Sonny Lacey of Baltimore, MD; sister Alice Jantzen and her husband Frank of Grant, NE; sister Donna Enns and husband Jim of Fresno, CA; sister-in-law Norma Jean Kroeker, wife of Lorma’s late brother Harold Kroeker of Grant, NE; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends, too many to name but greatly loved. She was preceded in death by her parents and older brother, Harold. Memorials are suggested to the Crossroads Center Rescue Mission (crossroadsmission.com) or the Mennonite Central Committee (mcc.org )

Lorma L. Wiebe

June 9, 1937 - May 16, 2016