Funeral services for 94-year old Edna Schaer of Gordon, NE, are Monday, June 20, 2022, at 11:00 at Grace Lutheran Church in Gordon
A luncheon follows at the church.
Burial be after the luncheon at Mt Hope Cemetery, south of Gordon.
Visitation is Sunday, June 19, from 5 to 7 PM at the Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home in Gordon
A memorial has been established for St Jude’s Children Hospital or the Rainbow Bible Ranch. Donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home, PO Box 366, Gordon, NE 69343.
Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Edna Schaer was born November 18, 1927, in Broken Bow, NE, and went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at the Pioneer Manor Nursing Home in Hay Springs, NE.
Edna was to James Earl (Pat) Reed and Nancy Armenta (Ditson) Reed. Her father was born on June 3, 1887, to Frank and Amy (Jacobson) Reed, and passed away on June 29, 1937, when Edna was only 10 years old.
     Her mother Nancy was born on May 24, 1894, in Fairfield, NE, to William and Mary Jane (Campbell) Ditson, and passed away on April 24, 1986, in Grand Island, NE.
      Edna was the seventh of ten children – all now deceased. They were Audrey, Louise, James, Robert, Harlen, Hellen, Edna, Norma Lois and Wilma.
      Edna started working at a very young age, first baby sitting and then working in a creamery where she candled eggs. She went to work at the Lewis Café at the age of 14 and was there until she was 15 years old.
Edna also worked at Holcomb’s Drug store until the second semester of her junior year, when the family moved to Valentine. She worked in the confectionary until school was out and they moved again, this time to Gordon. She graduated high school in 1946 and worked at the Thompson Drug Store and for a total of 4 ½ years.
     Edna married Benjamin H Schaer on October 3, 1948, in O’Neil, NE. They moved to the farm south of Gordon after they were married. To this union were born three children, Teala Rose, Benny Lee and Verla Sue.
       Edna was baptized, confirmed and became a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Gordon on June 25, 1950. She went on to teach Sunday school there and was a member of the Ladies Aid Society.
         Edna worked at French Flower and Gifts in Gordon, where she learned the fine art of flower arranging, then owned and operated her own floral shop in Rushville, Edna’s Flowers and Gifts.
She did that for 11 years, from 1972 until 1983, then sold it and retired to the farm, where she raised many beautiful flowers and enjoyed gardening. She had a special fondness for the newborn calves, colts and kittens.
Edna was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, the Lone Butte Extension Garden Club, the Lucky Strike Bowling team, the Tri-State Cowgirls Association, and she served on the Sheridan County Fair Board.
Edna was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin, her parents, Pat and Nancy Reed and all of her siblings, Audrey, Louise, James, Robert, Harlen, Hellen, Norma, Lois and Wilma.
     She leaves to mourn her daughters Teala Onstott and Verla Schaer; son Ben and wife Barbara; grandchildren Jennifer, Suzie and husband Dean Harris, Chris and wife Kimberly, Brad and friend Brianne Wilson, Jason Onstott and wife Tonya, Justin Onstott and wife Dawn; 9 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren, plus numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, good friends and neighbors.