Florence Effie Ella (Nelson) Lunkwitz, age 91 of Sutherland, passed away July 15, 2014 at the Sutherland Care Center.
Florence was born on January 20, 1923 in North Platte, to Fredrich Oscar Nelson and Effie Jane (Hankins) Nelson. She grew up in the area, was baptized at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Platte on April 20, 1924 and confirmed on the 5th day of April, 1936. She graduated from North Platte High School in May 1940. On February 27, 1940 she married Roy Everett Lunkwitz at the First Lutheran Church Parsonage (attended by Effie Nelson and Lilly Laveley). Roy and Florence were married 65 ½ years before Roy passed away in August of 2005.
At the age of 42, Florence went back to school to earn her teaching degree and graduated from Kearney State College in 1967 in 2 ½ years by taking 24 hours per semester. She received her BA degree in Elementary, History, and Political Science and the following year received her BA in Special Ed. She was one thesis short of receiving her Masters.
Florence worked out of her home for 42 years. She worked for Townsend Manufacturing in Sutherland and Good-all in Ogallala. After receiving her teaching degree, she taught at the Hershey Public Schools for 20 years, retiring in 1987. At that time Roy needed surgery for a pacemaker and she wanted to be there for him. She was well known at the “Hugging Teacher”, her dedication to her students, and getting parents in involved with their children’s education. She loved her husband Roy, her dog “Bandit”, and her many, many friends. She and Roy loved making crafts of all kinds. She was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Sutherland, a 50-plus year member of the Order of the Eastern Star (OES), and served as a board member of the Nebraska Visually Impaired Peer Support (VIPS). With the help of Roy, she presented over 10 workshops for the visually impaired. She and Roy were both winners of the VIP Presidential Award, recognizing their dedication and hard work to that organization.
Florence is survived by 4 sisters-in-law, Gladys Nelson, Eunice Gobel, Ione (Fred) Seifer, Rosie (Tom) Neilsen; 1 brother-in-law, Frank (Della) Lunkwitz; her special adopted family, Ted and Sandy Adams; 33 nieces and nephews; and her dog “Bandit”.
She was preceded in death by her husband Roy Lunkwitz; her mother and father; sister Gladys Nelson; and 2 brothers, Fred and Albert Nelson.
Memorials are suggested to the Sutherland Fire Department or the Sutherland Senior Center. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday July 18, 2014 at Grace Lutheran Church in Sutherland with Pastor Erin Dunlavy officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 9:00 p.m. Thursday July 17, 2014 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.