Sharon E. Wittler

Sharon Elaine (Gobel) Wittler passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at Jefferson Community Health & Life in Fairbury, Nebraska, at the age of 81 years, 6 months and 24 days. She was born December 24, 1935 to Ralph and Molly Gobel at Mrs. Farmer’s house in Fairbury, Nebraska. She was the first of three children. She enjoyed a wonderful childhood with fun family gatherings and vacations.

Sharon attended grade school and high school in Fairbury, graduating with the class of 1954. She continued her education at Fairbury Junior College where she received an associate’s degree. She was an excellent typist and worked at the Fairbury Junior College and then the Rock Island Railroad Depot in Fairbury. While attending college she met Leland Wittler, and they were married on August 25, 1957 at the Baptist Church in Fairbury. Following Leland’s student teaching, they moved to Lincoln so he could complete his work toward a bachelor of science degree in education. Their first child, Mark, was born before they moved to Diller where their second child, Kevin, was born. In 1962 they returned to the family farm where their third child, Lori, was born. After a move to Milford in 1964 where Leland was the vocational agriculture instructor, their fourth child, Tammy, was born. In 1968 they returned to Fairbury which became their permanent home. After Leland’s passing in 2006, Sharon remained in the family home where she lived until her death.


Aside from taking care of the children, Sharon enjoyed the social outlet of a bowling league and taking an active part in Faculty Wives. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, exploring museums and other points of interest, as well as camping with the family. As an active member of the Fairbury Nazarene Church, Sharon played the piano for 3 church services each week, as well as serving as the accompanist for the Nazarene Men’s Quartet, the Nazarene Girl’s Quartet, the Oregon Trail 4-H Club Song Group, and various soloists. When her children were older, Sharon returned to work as secretary at the Fairbury Christian Church. In 1978 she took a position at Southeast Community College in Fairbury, serving as student services secretary and foreign student advisor, eventually working at the Beatrice campus until her retirement in 2004. Sharon was always an avid reader and was a frequent visitor to the library, exchanging and sharing books with many friends. She enjoyed board games and word puzzles. Music was also a big part of her life, and she taught piano lessons for many years. Often the family would gather around the piano to sing as she played. She was an excellent cook with many family favorites such as her famous potato salad, meatloaf and scalloped potatoes. She was a huge Kansas City Royals fan, which was a big hit with her grandkids. Her fun-loving personality, which included entertaining her children’s friends with the “chicken walk,” will be missed but treasured forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.


Survivors include her sons and wives: Dr. Mark & P. J. Wittler of Harrisburg, Nebraska, Kevin & Lori Wittler of rural Fairbury; daughters Lori Duensing & her husband David of Spring, Texas, and Tammy Husa & her husband Harlan of rural Hebron; 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; brother Dr. Richard & Maureen Gobel of Fairbury, and sister Cindy & Dave Gibson of rural Beatrice; sister-in-law’s husband Irv Vonderfecht of Hastings, Nebraska, sister-in-law Elaine Wittler of Olathe, Kansas, sister-in-Law & husband Mary Lou & Joe Penquite, and brother-in-law Delmar Wittler of Loveland, Colorado.

Preceding her in death were her beloved husband Leland, her parents Ralph & Molly Gobel, parents-in-Law Julius & Mary Wittler and Anna Wittler; brother-in-law Ray Clifford and sister-in-law Emmalee Vonderfecht.


Services will be Monday July 24, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Fairbury with Pastor Kyle Bendorf officiating. The family will greet friends from 6 – 8 Sunday evening at the funeral home.
Burial will be in the Fairbury Cemetery. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.