Elaine Mae Odean Stagemeyer, 85 years, longtime resident of Hershey, NE, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2015, at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, NE.
Elaine was born January 28, 1930, to George Livingston and Ruby Elizabeth Owen Humphrey at Sutherland, NE where she grew up. Elaine graduated from Sutherland High School in 1947.
On November 2, 1947, Elaine married Delmar Delaine Odean in Sutherland and they made their home in Hershey. To this union three children, Kenneth, David and Elizabeth, were born. Delmar and Elaine later divorced. She married Eugene ‘Gene’ Stagemeyer on June 19, 1978, at Hershey. They lived in Hershey before moving to North Platte in 1991. She returned to Hershey in 2007 to be closer to her family and enjoyed spending time with her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. Elaine and Gene also enjoyed traveling until he passed away in 2003.
Elaine was a member of the Hershey United Methodist Church and was the first woman bus driver for Hershey school. She also worked as a waitress at the North Platte Elk’s Club and Hershey Truck Stop. Elaine enjoyed crocheting, gardening and yard work, and liked her coffee.
Survivors include her children, Elizabeth ‘Liz’ (Steve) Ellerd, of Platteville, CO, and Kenny (Cindy) Odean and David (Julie) Odean, of Hershey; stepchildren, Brenda (Bill) Perry and Mike Stagemeyer, of Elwood, NE; six grandchildren, Javin Odean, Stevi (Clayton) Rawles, Scott Wilson, Stephanee (Bryan) Borquez, Jeremiah (Jamie) Ellerd and David Ellerd; 16 great-grandchildren; three great great-grandchildren; her sister, Lila (Clarence) Arensdorf, of Sutherland; a brother, George (Aubra) Humphrey, of Sutherland; sister-in-law, Marjorie Goedert, of Sutherland; brother-in-law, Don Karash, of Arapahoe, NE; and many nieces, nephews and other family.
Along with her husband, Gene, Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, George and Ruby Humphrey; two brothers, Jack and LeRoy Humphrey; sister-in-law, Dolores Karash; and a great-grandson, Elijah Ellerd.
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 26, 2015, at the Hershey United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery south of Sutherland. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to the Hershey United Methodist Church. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.