Mildred E. Maurer

Mildred received her Crown of Life on September 21, 2023, when she passed away at Harvard Rest Haven in Harvard NE. 

A private family graveside service at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Island NE will be held the morning of Saturday, September 30, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Celebration of Eternal Life Service at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hastings NE. The family plans to be at the church approximately one hour prior to the service. Light lunch and visiting will follow immediately after the service. Memorials may be given to Redeemer Lutheran Church or Mary Lanning Hospice, both in Hastings NE, or Harvard Rest Haven, Harvard NE.

Mildred Eileen (Ruhter) Maurer was born April 28, 1929, in rural Juniata, NE to Emil “Pete” and Dora (Rodehorst) Ruhter. She became a child of God through Holy Baptism on May 2, 1929, at home. She was very thankful to have been able to attend Christian Day School for eight years at Christ Lutheran School near Prosser, NE. She vividly remembered the first Bible passage she memorized in her first year in school, “Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:28 KJV. She also appreciated having memorized her first hymn verse that year, “Lord Jesus, who dost love me, Oh, spread Thy wings above me And shield me from alarm! Though evil would assail me, Thy mercy will not fail me; I rest in Thy protecting arm.” Hymn #554 TLH.

Mildred was confirmed in her faith on May 21, 1944, at Christ Lutheran Church. Her confirmation verse was, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life”. John 5:24 KJV.

She graduated from Kenesaw High School in 1948. During high school, she faithfully worked hard at Mikkelsen Drug Store in Kenesaw, NE until she married Conrad Maurer on April 25, 1951, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kenesaw. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Steven, Rhonda, and Mark. She worked in the kitchen at Trinity Lutheran School in Grand Island, NE, and also at Montgomery Ward in York, NE. Later, Mildred and Conrad lived in Colorado where she worked at St. Anthony Hospital in Denver for about twenty years. After retirement, she moved back to Hastings, NE where she once again attended Redeemer Lutheran Church until her death.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Conrad (1991); son, Steven (2020); granddaughter, Heidi Anderson (2020); her parents; and her four brothers (wives), Robert (Pat), Arnold, Wilmer (Maureen), and Lorin. 

She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda; son, Mark (Kathy); daughter-in-law, Roxie; sisters-in-law, Arvada and Dee; grandchildren, Erin (Jeromy), Amy, Andrew (Natasha), Jessica (Kurt), Heather, Mikki (Chris), and Jacque; great-grandchildren, Aidan, Elise, William, Jackson, Madeline, Natasha, Meghan, Fiona (Jared), Amber, Kelsie, Emily (Zeb), Myriah, Abigail, Rachel, Brody (Jenna), Ian, Joey (Adasia) and Steven; great-great-grandchildren, Izayah, Braytin, Keaytin, Kayzlin, Zaiden, Damiah, Jude, Xander, Ava, Serenity, Charitee, and Aleeyah. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

She expressed her sincere gratitude for the “loving care and the home” her daughter and best friend, Rhonda, provided for many years. She appreciated the helpful gifts and talents her two sons often used when lending a hand in various ways.

Mildred in recent days wanted said, “We praise Jesus, Holy Son of God, for our redemption and forgiveness of every sin so we have free salvation. I praise God for all the love and care of my family and all the precious people who took care of me so wonderfully. Bless them Lord Jesus with faith also. With God all things are possible. We are living in hope and comfort believing this. Amen.”