Reah Maurine Spencer

Reah Maurine Spencer, 92, of Kearney, formerly of Gibbon, died Friday, December 6, 2013, at St. Luke's Good Samaritan Villiage in Kearney, NE. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M., Thursday, December 12, 2013 at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Gibbon with the Rev. James Endecott, Rev. Barb Spangler and Rev. Cathy Cole officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery near Gibbon. Memorials are suggested to Gibbon Faith United Church, Gibbon Fire Dept and Sons of the American Legion (SAL)-Gibbon. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is in charge arrangements. Reah was born February 23, 1921 at the family farmstead SW of Gibbon, NE to George Chandos and Mabel Chloe (Chapman) Shambaugh. On November 27, 1945 she married Robert Wayne Spencer at her parent’s home SW of Gibbon, NE. Robert died March 8, 1998. She received her education at Gibbon Public School graduating valedictorian in 1938. In 1942, she completed her degree from Kearney State Teachers College, Kearney, NE teaching English & Commercial in the Alma, Gibbon and Shelton schools. She was employed at Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, NE during WWII. She and her husband lived their first married years at the Spencer” Honeymoon House” NW of Gibbon later purchasing the Chapman farm south of Gibbon. In 2012 Reah moved to St. Lukes in Kearney, NE after living the majority of her life in the Gibbon community. Her memberships included: Gibbon Faith United Church, GGG Club (charter member), Pioneer Club and District #5 Club. Reah enjoyed 4-H leadership, playing piano, crafts, gardening, flower arranging, photography, scrapbooking, history and genealogy. Her cake decorating and holiday confectionaries were enjoyed for celebrations by family and friends as well as others. Survivors include her daughter, Muriel Lindsay of Danville, CA; grandsons, Ryan (Jennifer) Lindsay of Danville, CA and Matt Lindsay of Santa Cruz, CA; great-grandchildren, Jack and Kate Lindsay of Danville, CA; step-grandchildren, Larry (Connie)Rachow of Shelton, NE, Lynette Malone of Kearney, NE and Lonnie (Charlotte) Rachow of Shelton, NE; 9 step-great-grandchildren; 3 step-great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her husband, Robert, she was preceded in death by her son, Roland and his wife, Darlene; step-grandson, Lyle Rachow.

Reah Maurine Spencer

February 23, 1921 - December 6, 2013