Nettie 'Irene' Neumann

Nettie Irene Neumann passed away November 11, 2016, at the Christian Homes in Holdrege, Nebraska. She was 95 years old. Irene was born the first of five children on January 31, 1921 at Hazard, Nebraska to parents, Richard Ray and Katheryn Emelia (Smith) Ward. She was raised in Berwyn and graduated from Berwyn High School with the class of 1939. She worked at the Berwyn Depot and Telephone Company. On August 15, 1940, she was united in marriage to Frederick S. Neumann. Irene was a busy mother and homemaker to their three children. They lived in several communities early in their marriage due to Freds teaching career. They eventually settled in Holdrege where Fred was employed by the Railroad and Irene worked at Charles Hotel in laundry and later as a maid at the Tower Motel. They moved to the McCook community in 1962 where Irene worked at the Red Horse Motel, in the school kitchen, Sehnerts Bakery, and after retiring volunteered at Helping Hands Thrift Shop occasionally. Irene was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Esther Circle, and Rebekah Lodge. She and Fred loved to square dance, even taking a trip to Germany with their square dance friends. They loved to travel often to Washington State where most of Freds family lived. Other travels took them to Virginia, Alabama, Germany, Colorado, Texas and Arizona where their children were located. Irenes smile and personality was contagious. Her quality traits included, being thrifty, truthful, happy and full of life, teacher of many things, independent and in later years feisty and spunky. She enjoyed jokes, playing cards, visiting friends and family and going out to lunch at her favorite restaurants. While her children were little she sewed many of their clothes and later made quilts from leftover fabric, crocheted afghans and dish clothes, counted cross stitch, and made beaded Christmas ornaments. In later years she enjoyed exercising at the YMCA and FROG program. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Frederick S. Neumann on November 7, 1987; son-in-law, Wayne Isaacson; brother, James Ward; sister, Fay and brother-in-law, James Drake; brother-in-law, Dick Jensen; and Freds siblings and their spouses. She is survived by children Shirley Isaacson, Marysville, WA; Roger Neumann (Pam), Englewood, CO; and Nancy Wolfe (Carl), Peoria, AZ; Six grandchildren, Kelly Porter (Clyde) and Kurt Isaacson; Jeremy Neumann (Melinda) and Kristen Neumann; and Emily Wolfe (Duane Maas) and Jenna Wolfe; Great-grandchildren, Bradley Porter (Marissa); Samuel Porter; Clayton Isaacson; Adysen, Jaxsen and Keenan Neumann; and Aiden Maas; Soon to be great-great-grandchild of Bradley and Marissa Porter; sister-in-law Elda Ward, Broken Bow, NE; brother, Glen Ward (Jessie), Alliance, NE; sister, Dixie Jensen, Holdrege, NE; sister-in-law, Della Haag (Leonard), Mossyrock, WA; several cousins; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Friday, November 18, 2016, 2:00 p.m. at Memorial United Methodist Church with Pastor Arun Peters officiating. Inurnment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be given in her name to Community Hospital Home Health/Hospice of charity of choice. Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook is in charge of the arrangements. Memorial Service

Friday, November 18, 2016 2:00 PM