Lela Rohrbaugh
Passed away: May 24, 2011Funeral Home: Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home
April 25, 1908 - May 24, 2011
Lela Mae Shane Rohrbaugh, age 103, died May 24, 2011 at the Blue Valley
Lutheran Nursing Home in Hebron, NE. She was born April 25, 1908 at
home on a farm near Kesterson, southwest of Fairbury, NE. She was the
youngest child of George Walton and Alzaretta (Allie) Mitchell Shane.
She attended rural schools and graduated from Fairbury High School. She
married Floyd Rohrbaugh on the 26th of July, 1931 at Sidney, NE. They
spent their married life working together on their farm south of
Helvey, NE where they moved in 1933. They were the parents of one son,
Duane Earl born March 21, 1934. Duane died accidently on the farm on
August 13, 1947. During their married life, Lela and Floyd enjoyed
traveling around the world. In later years they spent their winters in
South Padre Island, TX. After Floyd’s death in 1978, Lela continued
to live on the farm until her health forced her to move to Davenport, NE
to be near her niece, Sallie Pfiefer in 2008. In the fall of 2009 she
moved to the Blue Valley Lutheran Nursing Home where she lived
comfortably until her death. She was preceded in death by her parents;
son Duane; husband Floyd; sisters and husbands, Hattie and Albert Timm
and Dottie and Ray Warnock; brothers and wives, James and Irene Shane
and Edgar and Mae Shane, and several nieces and nephews. She is
survived by her nephews, Raymond (Ruth) Warnock, Douglas, WY, Jimmy
(Carmen) Shane, Node, WY, Robert (Helen) Flower, Laramie, WY, Edward
(Pat) Schmitz, Mesa, AZ, Bryce (Betsy) Rohrbaugh, Olathe, KS, and
Charles Rohrbaugh, Nomal, IL; nieces Patty (Jack) Showalter, Douglas,
WY, Bonnie (Billy) DesEnfants, Torrington, WY, Sallie (Dale) Pfiefer,
Davenport, NE, Donna (Ronald) Podolak, Laurel, MT, Shirley (Ray) Rippe,
Hebron, NE, Lucia (Terry) Fooshee, Barboursville, VA, Pat Green,
Northfield, MN, Joan Godfrey, Fairbury, NE, Jeanne (Gordon) Larson,
Sturgeon Lake, MN, Alene (C. K.) Linehan, Astoria, OR, Paula Rohrbaugh,
Salem, OR, Patricia (Julio) Salcedo, Grass Valley, CA, and Jane (Dick)
Smith, Santa Fe, NM; many other relatives; and a community of friends.
Lela was a long-time member of the Helvey United Methodist Church,
formerly Helvey United Brethren, until its closing. She then became a
member of the United Methodist Church in Daykin. Lela and Floyd spent
many years enthusiastically working with the Helvey Youth Fellowship
Group and developed lasting connections to its members. Lela was active
with the women's groups of both churches. Lela was a fiercely
independent woman whose spirit was only dimmed in the last few years of
her life by macular degeneration. She maintained that characteristic
until the last few months of her life. Lela's last thread of
independence was going out "anywhere"; as a significant caregiver first
told her "any day outside the four walls is a good day." All her life,
Lela was a voracious worker. She worked alongside Floyd sharing in the
farm work; farming alone one year following his death. Until moving
off the farm, Lela continued her outdoor endeavors mowing her "fields"
of grass, raking pine needles, and maintaining her flower gardens and
orchard. Lela adored music and poetry having memorized numerous songs
and poems. Over the years, many a sing-a-long was held with family and
friends. She will be remembered as the little lady who sang as she
traveled the hallways of the nursing home. Visitors were always welcome
and expected in Lela's home, and family visits were continually on the
calendar. Lela cherished her family and friends and was prepared with
baked goods from the freezer to be served with hot tea. Lela would
travel the country in any weather to be a part of a family gathering.
It is fitting that Lela's funeral is on Memorial Day weekend. She took
pride in respectfully decorating graves with flowers from her garden.
Last year at 102, she performed her final remembrances. Lela will
always be remembered as a wonderful cook and a very loving, caring,
generous person who was always there to help anyone in need.
Lela Mae Shane Rohrbaugh, age 103, died May 24, 2011 at the Blue Valley
Lutheran Nursing Home in Hebron, NE. She was born April 25, 1908 at
home on a farm near Kesterson, southwest of Fairbury, NE. She was the
youngest child of George Walton and Alzaretta (Allie) Mitchell Shane.
She attended rural schools and graduated from Fairbury High School. She
married Floyd Rohrbaugh on the 26th of July, 1931 at Sidney, NE. They
spent their married life working together on their farm south of
Helvey, NE where they moved in 1933. They were the parents of one son,
Duane Earl born March 21, 1934. Duane died accidently on the farm on
August 13, 1947. During their married life, Lela and Floyd enjoyed
traveling around the world. In later years they spent their winters in
South Padre Island, TX. After Floyd’s death in 1978, Lela continued
to live on the farm until her health forced her to move to Davenport, NE
to be near her niece, Sallie Pfiefer in 2008. In the fall of 2009 she
moved to the Blue Valley Lutheran Nursing Home where she lived
comfortably until her death. She was preceded in death by her parents;
son Duane; husband Floyd; sisters and husbands, Hattie and Albert Timm
and Dottie and Ray Warnock; brothers and wives, James and Irene Shane
and Edgar and Mae Shane, and several nieces and nephews. She is
survived by her nephews, Raymond (Ruth) Warnock, Douglas, WY, Jimmy
(Carmen) Shane, Node, WY, Robert (Helen) Flower, Laramie, WY, Edward
(Pat) Schmitz, Mesa, AZ, Bryce (Betsy) Rohrbaugh, Olathe, KS, and
Charles Rohrbaugh, Nomal, IL; nieces Patty (Jack) Showalter, Douglas,
WY, Bonnie (Billy) DesEnfants, Torrington, WY, Sallie (Dale) Pfiefer,
Davenport, NE, Donna (Ronald) Podolak, Laurel, MT, Shirley (Ray) Rippe,
Hebron, NE, Lucia (Terry) Fooshee, Barboursville, VA, Pat Green,
Northfield, MN, Joan Godfrey, Fairbury, NE, Jeanne (Gordon) Larson,
Sturgeon Lake, MN, Alene (C. K.) Linehan, Astoria, OR, Paula Rohrbaugh,
Salem, OR, Patricia (Julio) Salcedo, Grass Valley, CA, and Jane (Dick)
Smith, Santa Fe, NM; many other relatives; and a community of friends.
Lela was a long-time member of the Helvey United Methodist Church,
formerly Helvey United Brethren, until its closing. She then became a
member of the United Methodist Church in Daykin. Lela and Floyd spent
many years enthusiastically working with the Helvey Youth Fellowship
Group and developed lasting connections to its members. Lela was active
with the women's groups of both churches. Lela was a fiercely
independent woman whose spirit was only dimmed in the last few years of
her life by macular degeneration. She maintained that characteristic
until the last few months of her life. Lela's last thread of
independence was going out "anywhere"; as a significant caregiver first
told her "any day outside the four walls is a good day." All her life,
Lela was a voracious worker. She worked alongside Floyd sharing in the
farm work; farming alone one year following his death. Until moving
off the farm, Lela continued her outdoor endeavors mowing her "fields"
of grass, raking pine needles, and maintaining her flower gardens and
orchard. Lela adored music and poetry having memorized numerous songs
and poems. Over the years, many a sing-a-long was held with family and
friends. She will be remembered as the little lady who sang as she
traveled the hallways of the nursing home. Visitors were always welcome
and expected in Lela's home, and family visits were continually on the
calendar. Lela cherished her family and friends and was prepared with
baked goods from the freezer to be served with hot tea. Lela would
travel the country in any weather to be a part of a family gathering.
It is fitting that Lela's funeral is on Memorial Day weekend. She took
pride in respectfully decorating graves with flowers from her garden.
Last year at 102, she performed her final remembrances. Lela will
always be remembered as a wonderful cook and a very loving, caring,
generous person who was always there to help anyone in need.