Ella Bergmann

Ella Josephine Louise (Oestmann) Bergmann, daughter of Ernst F. F. and Minnie (Bohling) Oestmann, was born on the family farm five miles west of Auburn, Nebraska. She was one of six children in the family. Ella was baptized April 8, 1917 and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran (Hickory Grove) Church near her home. She attended Rohrs School District 80, and graduated from Auburn High School in 1934 with a degree in elementary teaching.

After her education, Ella taught for three years at District 72. On June 2, 1938 she was united in marriage to Edwin Bergmann at Hickory Grove Church by Rev. B. C. Wiebke. In 1941 the couple purchased a farm southwest of Auburn and made their home there. In 1953 they were blessed with the arrival of a daughter, Irene Kathryn, at age 22 months. The family enjoyed many summer vacations together, mainly in the mountains to the west.

Ella was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran (Hickory Grove) Church and was very active in the church. She taught Sunday School from 1940 to 1999, and was a member of Ruth Naomi Circle and leader of the Jr. Lutheran Mission Group.

She was also active in local, district, and conference offices in the American Lutheran Church. Ella also was a member of the Auburn Woman?s Club and Nemaha County Hospital Auxiliary. Besides singing in a trio for church and civic functions, she enjoyed reading and collecting poems, interior decorating, and landscaping. Even with all of her activities, Ella?s favorite pastime was being with her grandsons and great-granddaughters.

In November of 2008 Ella became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society-Auburn, and involved herself in the activities there. It was at Good Sam that she passed away on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at the age of 92 years, 6 months, and 21 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Edwin in 1995; daughter Irene; 2 step-great-grandchildren; sisters Minnie Busse, Irene Oestmann, and Hertha Remmers; and half-brother Arthur Oestmann.

Ella is survived by her son-in-law and daughter-in-law Jim & Ginny Baack of Auburn; grandchildren Brian Baack of Auburn; Jeff and wife Lexie Baack of Peru; Cody Baack of Auburn; step-grandchildren Amy and husband Todd DeBuse of Lincoln; Renae Rathbone of Madison, NE; Kurt Ottemann of Savannah, GA; great-granddaughters Mikaela and Arianna Baack of Auburn; 5 step-great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law Louis and Ruth Oestmann of Cottonwood, AZ; sisters-in-law Helen Bohling of Auburn; LaVerda Bergmann of Auburn; Arlene Schuette of Johnson; Elnora Lunzmann of Ida Grove, IA; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Harvey and Della Bergmann of Auburn; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.