Elva Damme

Elva A. Damme, 87 Kearney resident Elva A. Damme, 87 of Kearney, formerly of Syracuse, Nebraska passed away Sunday, January 13, 2013 at the Mother Hull Home in Kearney. A Memorial Service will be held 1:00 P.M. Saturday, February 2, 2013 at the Luther Memorial Church in Syracuse, Nebraska. There will be no visitation. Burial will take place at the Cook Cemetery in Cook, Nebraska. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Online condolences or personal reflections may be submitted at www.osrfh.com. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Homes and Cremation of Kearney are in charge of arrangements. She was born October 8, 1925, near Vesta, Nebraska, to John Frederick and Lena Margaret (Harms) Rulla. At an early age, her family moved to Yuma Colorado because of her mother’s health. Both parents died while living in Colorado and Elva returned to Nebraska to live with her Aunt Ann and Uncle Albert Panko in Burr, Nebraska, where she completed her education. She graduated from Burr High School with the Class of 1944. On November 4, 1945, she was united in marriage to Kenneth Damme in a double wedding ceremony with her sister, Alice and Jim Graber at the Lutheran Church in Sterling, Nebraska. Elva and Kenneth made their home on the family farm near Cook, Nebraska, where they raised their three children. Elva worked as a nurse’s aide and later became the Central Supplies Tech at Community Memorial Hospital in Syracuse. She belonged to the Meadowlark Extension Club for many years. They also belonged to a pinochle card club and enjoyed taking many bus tours over the years. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Cook before transferring membership to Luther Memorial Church when they left the farm and moved to Syracuse. Elva was a loving mother and grandma, a wonderful cook, and very hard worker. After coming home from work, it was a common sight to see her mowing the lawn, gardening, canning, and doing hog chores. She loved cooking for her family. Apple pie and French toast with homemade syrup will always bring a special memory. Survivors include her daughters, Sheryl Behrens of Lincoln, Nebraska, Marcia Meyer and husband, Aaron, of Curtis, Nebraska, son, Boyd and wife, Barb, of Kearney, Nebraska; grandchildren, Tammy Overton and husband, Calvin, of Lincoln, Troy Behrens, and wife, Stacie, of Johnston, IA, Kelly Jelden and husband, Josh, of Kearney, Zachary Meyer and wife, Christina, of Lincoln, Jamie Abare and husband, Mark, of Bellevue, WA, Benjamin Damme and wife, Stacey, of Omaha, Travis Damme and wife, Jessica, of Kansas City, Darin Damme and wife, Kacie, of Salisbury, NC, and Joshua Damme of Kearney; great-grandchildren, Jessie and Brittany Overton, Raegan, Gage, and Reid Behrens, Madison Meyer, Ava and Landon Abare, Faith, Rayna, and Caleb Damme, Isaac, Moriah, and Keziah Damme, Ransom, Avery, Hardison, and Finley Damme; great-great-grandson, Jace Larson-Overton; sister, Alice Graber, of Freeman, SD, sisters-in-law Doris Rulla of Greeley, CO, Vernelle Haertel of Waverly, Beverly Schroeder of Cook, and Jacki Hubbs of Fort Smith, AR, cousin Delton and wife Fran Panko of Tecumseh, nieces, nephews, many relatives and friends. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, an infant son, brother Paul, and son-in-law Denver Behrens.

Elva Damme

October 8, 1925 - January 13, 2013