Depke Andres

Depke Andres, 97 of Fairbury, NE, passed away Jan. 20th, 2020 at Gardenside Long Term Care.

Depke was born Sept. 10th, 1922 in Republic Co., KS, near Chester, NE. to John August Depke and Eunice Clo (Huffman) Depke.  Her given name was Merna Maxine Depke and she was called Maxine for much of her life.  At the age of 36 she legally changed her name to Depke Andres.  Depke grew up in the Hardy, NE area on the family farm and graduated from Hardy High School in 1939.  She attended Peru State Teachers College and taught in a country school in Nuckolls Co. for 5 yrs.  She married Ralph LeRoy Andres on Aug. 8th, 1945 in San Jose, CA.  They lived in Palo Alto, CA. for a short time until Ralph was discharged from the DA Dibble VA Hospital.  While there she attended Stanford University and taught elementary classes in its lab school.  In 1947 they bought a small acreage and moved to Fairbury, NE.  To this union 2 daughters were born, Rozann Elaine (Andres) Trusdale and Gayle Linda (Andres) Schroeder.  Ralph died in a farm accident in 1987.

Depke was a charter member of the Jefferson County Art Guild.  She taught art classes at Southeast Community College and various workshops in southeastern NE.  In 1984 she opened a gallery in downtown Fairbury called The Studio.  She was named the 2007 ANAC artist of the year.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church, the Extension Club, and served on the Fairbury Planning Commission.  Depke loved arts and crafts.  She said she was put on this earth to make people aware of the beauty around them and to rescue and care for all God’s creatures.  Her daughters and grandchildren will be forever grateful for the lessons she taught them about duty, sacrifice, commitment, and perseverance.

Depke is survived by her long time loving partner, Dennis Swett of Fairbury, NE., her daughters Rozann (Scott) Trusdale of Cozad, NE. and Gayle (Roland) Schroeder of Lincoln, NE., three grandchildren, Deidre Andres Mau of Lincoln, NE., Elijah Andres (Felicia) Bergmeier of Farmington, Mo., and Luke Andres Bergmeier of Eagle, NE., and two great-grandchildren, Elliott Andres Bergmeier and Aedan Konrad Bergmeier. Also missing her will be friends at Gardenside and the staff that provided such wonderful care.

Depke was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ralph Andres, her sister Virginia, and 2 infant siblings.

Services will be Friday, January 24, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Fairbury.  The Family will greet friends Thursday evening from 6 – 7:30 at the Funeral Home.  Memorials will go to the Family’s Choice.  Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com