Verna Lee Wilke, 96, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Saturday, March 25, 2023, at her home in Columbus.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 29 at 10:00 AM, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Columbus with Rev. Patrick Sparling and Rev. Chris Ramstad officiating. Family interment will be in Columbus Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue Wednesday from 9:00 AM until service time at the church. There will be a family prayer service on Wednesday at 9:45 AM at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Immanuel Lutheran Church or the donor's choice. The funeral service will be broadcast live on Gass Haney Funeral Home Facebook page.

Verna Lee Wilke was born November 10, 1926, in Genoa, Nebraska, to Elmer and Helga (Peterson) Nelson. She became a child of God through baptism and confirmed her Christian faith through confirmation. Verna attended Platte County District #39 Grade School. Growing up with no modern conveniences, Verna was taught about hard work at an early age. She graduated from Genoa High School in 1944, and having taken Normal Training, began teaching in 1944. She taught in a country school between Lindsay and Humphrey her first year and later taught at a school near Platte Center.

After three years of teaching, Verna moved to Columbus and started working at Coast To Coast as a bookkeeper. This is when she met Allen Wilke, and a romance began. Sunday picnics, going to movies and attending church together were things they both enjoyed. Allen proposed marriage in 1948 and set a date of December 5th for the wedding. A blizzard hit the night before, and nobody could get out, so the wedding was postponed until the following day, so on December 6th, 1948, Verna was united in marriage to the love of her life, Allen, at Augustana Lutheran Church in Genoa. The couple made their home on the Wilke homestead farm for nine years.

In 1957, the couple had a farm sale and moved into Columbus and purchased a landscaping and lawn care company from Jim Uhlman, thus the beginning of Wilke Landscape. Verna enjoyed working in the store and visiting with customers and worked there way into her senior years. She enjoyed traveling with Allen to many states and even to several countries.

Verna was a faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Her steadfast faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was constant throughout her life, and her prayer for all of her children was that Christ would be the center of their lives, as He was in hers.

Verna is survived by:
Son – Dana (Jody) Wilke of Sturgeon Bay, WI
Son – Galen (Shari Glenn) Wilke of Ames, IA
Son – Evan (Susan) Wilke of Columbus, NE
Daughter – Jennifer (Wyatt) Day of Columbus, NE
9 Grandchildren
4 Great Grandchildren
Sister – Helen Welin of Columbus, NE
Sister-in-law – Janice Nelson of Genoa, NE
Sister-in-law – Judy Nelson of Monroe, NE
Many nieces and nephews

Verna was preceded in death by:
Parents – Elmer and Helga Nelson
Husband – Allen Wilke
Brothers – Marvin "Robert" (Betty), Norman, and Darrell Nelson
Sister – Eunah (Glen) Goering
Brother-in-law – Stanley Welin

Service Folder Information
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall
not want. He makes me to lie
down in green pastures; He leads
me beside the still waters. He
restores my soul; He leads me
in the paths of righteousness for
His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil; for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff they comfort
me; You prepare a table before
me in the presence of mine enemies;
You anoint my head with oil,
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.


In Loving Memory Of

Verna Lee Wilke

Born
Wednesday, November 10, 1926
Genoa, Nebraska

Entered Into Rest
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Columbus, Nebraska

Service
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 10:00 AM
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Columbus, Nebraska

Officiants
Rev. Patrick Sparling
Rev. Chris Ramstad

Music
Ann Cattau – Organist & Accompanist
Erica Wessel – Soloist
"Hymn of Heaven"
Congregational Hymns
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"
"I Know That My Redeemer Lives"

Casket Bearers
Verna's Grandchildren

Interment
Columbus Cemetery
Columbus, Nebraska