Edith Clarice Haake

Edith Clarice Nau was born to Rev. Wm. G. Nau and Rose L. Ruff Nau on July 19, 1913 in Red Cloud, NE. She passed away on January 13, 2014 at Gardenside LTC in Fairbury, Nebraska at the age of 100 years, 5 months and 14 days.

She was baptized by her father at Zion Lutheran Church in Red Cloud. The family moved to Holstein, Ne. in 1916 and then to York, Ne. in 1919, where she attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School. She was confirmed by her father in May of 1926 and attended Benedict High School, graduating in 1930. That year the family moved to Zion Lutheran Church at Tobias, Ne., where she was a member until her death. After attending Hastings College, she taught at rural School District #118 in Saline County for three years.

On July 29, 1934, she was married to Wm. A Haake at Zion Lutheran Church of Tobias. Her father, Rev. Nau, officiated. They resided on a farm three miles northwest of Daykin, Ne. for 38 years. To this union four daughters were born; twins, Janis and Janette, Marilyn and Connie.

Edith was a member of Zion Ladies Aid, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, and the Zion Lutheran Church Choir. She served as a substitute teacher at Zion Lutheran Elementary School and was a Sunday School teacher at Zion for 16 years. In 1972, Bill and Edith retired from farming and moved to Daykin, Ne. where she was a member of Daykin Senior Citizens and the Willing Workers Club. She and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1984. Edith was employed as a nurse aid at the Jefferson County Memorial Nursing Home (now Gardenside) from 1973 until 1988, when she retired to care for her ill husband until his death in 1991. In November of 2004 she moved to Cedarwood Assisted Living in Fairbury, Ne., where she resided for 6 ½ years. In May of 2011 she moved to Gardenside LTC.

Her interests and hobbies included classical and sacred music, playing the piano and organ, reading , poetry, sewing, embroidery, quilting and gardening.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, Walter G. Nau and sister, Irma Beason. Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law; Janis (William) Love, Janette Kyriss, Marilyn Derby, all of Omaha, Ne., and Connie (Cary) Sommer of Callaway, Ne., sisters Clarice W. Eyestone, Big Bear, CA. and Maxine R. Winternheimer, Scottsdale, AZ. She also leaves behind ten grandchildren and their spouses; James (Jill) Shields, John Shields, Joseph (Joan) Shields, Jeffery (Julie) Shields, Scott (Brenda) Jochimsen, Jeffrey (Debbie) Jochimsen, and Penny Jochimsen, all of the Omaha area, Jason Derby of San Antonio, TX., Lance (Renee) Sommer of Broken Bow, Ne., and Britt Sommer of Lincoln, Ne., 17 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild, along with several step grandchildren, step great grandchildren, and step great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.\

Services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church of Tobias on January 16, 2014 with Pastor Ryan Meyer officiating. Burial will be in the Zion Cemetery. Pall bearers are James, John Joseph and Jeffrey Shields, Scott and Jeffrey Jochimsen, Jason Derby and Lance Sommer.