Willis Niederklein

Willis Niederklein, 90, of Daykin, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at Gardenside LTC. Willis was born at home on a farm near Tobias, Nebraska on March 19, 1921. He was the 4th of five sons born to William and Anna (Schwisow) Niederkleine.

Willis was a lifetime member of Zion Lutheran Church, a country church near Tobias, and was currently the oldest male member. He was baptized, confirmed and married in Zion Lutheran Church, and was a trustee, school board member and choir member for many years.

He married LaVona Bartels on August 24, 1947. The couple began their 56 years of married life on one of his father’s farms near Daykin. Willis increased his operation with additional purchases and farmed his entire life. His farming operation included irrigated grain crops, dairy, hogs and chickens. Willis retired from farming and he and LaVona moved to their new home in Daykin on their anniversary in 1989.

Family and Farming were at the center of Willis’s life, and he was blessed with seven children, five sons and two daughters. With the joy of having a large family also comes sadness as he lost a son, son-in-law and future son-in-law in a car accident in 1976, and another son to lymphoma in 1985. His wife LaVona died in 2004 after a struggle with cancer.

Willis is survived by Children: Lyle and Debbie Niederklein of Deer Lodge, MT, Joyce Huff of Lincoln, Les and Joyce Niederklein of Boise, ID, Faye and Mike Francis of Fairbury, and LaMonte Niederklein of Hastings; Grandchildren: Joel and Lindsay Niederklein, Anna and Jonathan Leatham, Shane Niederklein, Blake Niederklein, Jami and Nate Canham, Staci Francis, Nathan and Kim Francis, Adam, Alex, April Abby and Anthony Niederklein and Jonathan and Amy Strand; Great Grandchildren: Kingston Leatham, Lexi Francis, Gracyn and Emma Canham, and Emma and Elsie Strand; brother and sister-in-law Dallas and Ruby Niederklein, and brothers-in-law and spouses: ElRoy and Alice Bartels, and Laird and Sandra Bartels.

He is preceded in death by wife, LaVona, sons, Lloyd and Lonnie Niederklein, son-in-law, Larry Meeske, and future son-in-law Dennis Cecrle.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 5, at 2:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church near Tobias, with burial following at the church cemetery. The family with greet friends and family on Sunday, September 4, from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home at 2414 H Street in Fairbury. Memorials to the family’s choice.