Norma Jean Schnuelle

Norma Jean Schnuelle passed away peacefully on June13, 2016 at her home near Harbine. Norma, “Jean” as was known by all, was born February 23, 1936 to parent’s Bernhard Hestermann and Gertrude Spielman Hestermann of Sterling, Nebraska.

Norma Jean was baptized at the Immanuel Lutheran Church near Sterling on March 15, 1936, confirmed on April 10, 1949 where she attended Church and the Parochial School. She graduated from Sterling High School in 1953.
After earning her teaching certificate at Concordia Teachers College in 1955, she taught school four years at District 72 (Sunnyside) one room school, rural Cortland.

Norma Jean married LeRoy H. Schlake on February 15, 1957 at Immanuel Lutheran Church and to this union three children; Kent, Kaye, Kendall were born. They farmed near Cortland until Leroy’s death in 1966. Jean and the three children moved to Adams where she worked at Teda’s Café and Adams School as a teacher aide for 4 years.

On August, 18, 1972 she married Richard Schnuelle of Harbine and with this union she was united with five stepchildren. She taught Sunday school and was a member of the Hope UCC Women’s Fellowship, Merry Modern Club, Jefferson County Farm Bureau, and the Republication Election board. She worked seventeen years at the Beatrice 77 Livestock office.

Jean and Richard started the Nebraska Huntington ’s Disease Support Group of which Jean was the chairperson for 17 years.

After closing of the Hope UCC, Jean and Richard became members of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Diller in 2007. Jean was a member of WELCA and Eunice Circle.

Jean enjoyed all sports and other activities that her children, grand and great grandchildren were involved in. She would take those memories and put them in picture and scrapbooks for all those children.

Jean loved sharing genealogy with family and friends. Jean is now in her eternal heavenly home and we miss her deeply. We celebrate her life filled with selfless giving, energy, service and love for her family and friends.

Services will be at 2:30 pm Saturday June 18, 2016 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Diller. The family will greet friends Friday June 17th from 5 to 8 pm at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home. Burial will be at Prairie Home Cemetery-Diller, NE. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.