Obituaries

Mark A. Lemke, Commissioned Minister—Teacher Emeritus, departed this life on December 26, 2024, in Seward, Nebraska.

Mark was born on February 21, 1954, in New London, Wisconsin, to Edwin and Ella Bruns Lemke. He received an associate degree from Concordia, Milwaukee, in 1974 and then graduated from Concordia Teachers College (now University), Seward, in 1976; received a master’s degree from Cleveland State University in 1985; and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Central Florida in 1996. Throughout his career he served as teacher and coach. Ministries served include: Faith, Harahan, LA (1976-1980); Lutheran East, Cleveland, OH (1980-1988); Orlando Lutheran, Orlando, FL (1988-1991); and Concordia University, Seward (1992-2009). Mark retired in June of 2009.

Mr. Lemke is survived by his wife, Cindy Lemke of Seward; one son, Alexander (Katie) Lemke; one daughter, Crystal (Ruben) Solano; and grandchildren, Madeline and Jack Lemke and Isabella and Mateo Solano. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Louis, Armond, and Verlyn Lemke, Ardys Wellso, and Shelby Lemke.

Visitation at Volzke Funeral Home in Seward will be on Thursday, January 2, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held Friday, January 3, at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Seward.

Memorials in care of St. John Hope Fund.

The Reverend Donald H. Becker, pastor emeritus, rural Gibbon, Nebraska, departed this life on Friday, November 29, 2024, at the age of 81 surrounded by his family at his home. He was born July 16, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the second son of five born to Harold and Evelyn Becker. In August of 1943, he became a child of God through baptism at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, Illinois. The family then moved to River Grove, Illinois, in 1950. He was confirmed on May 5, 1957, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in River Grove, Illinois. Don graduated from River Grove Public School in 1957, then attended Leyden High School for his freshman and sophomore years. In the summer of 1959, he attended a Career Day at Concordia Teachers’ College which led to his decision to attend Concordia High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and begin the process of answering his calling to become a Lutheran minister.

After high school, he attended Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he completed his pre-seminary training. While there, he was on the Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran Cadets basketball team. Through basketball, he met his future wife Sandy who was attending the Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing. The all-men’s college relied on the nursing school to provide cheerleaders for their games. While attending Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, he played basketball in his freshman and sophomore years and coached an intramural basketball team to the championship. Later, in 2017, he was inducted into the Concordia Falcons Basketball Hall of Fame.

Sandy and Don were married on August 19, 1967, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The day after their wedding, they left for Don’s vicarage in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he served for one year. Returning to St. Louis, he completed his theological education and graduated from the seminary with a Bachelor of Divinity degree on May 30, 1969. After seminary in St. Louis, he was then called to serve at Zion Lutheran Church in Burley, Idaho. In Burley, they welcomed the birth of their first two daughters, Andrea Lynn in 1970, and Jennifer Marie in 1972. He served this parish for five years before accepting the call to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Minden, Nebraska. One month after their arrival in Minden, they welcomed daughter number three, Heather Sue.

In addition to ministering to the church of St. Paul, Don and Sandy became foster parents in 1980, serving over 40 children ranging from infants to teenagers. Don was active in the Minden community volunteering as well, serving with the Head Start Program, Rotary, The Teammates Program, and Literacy Links at East Elementary School. He was a committed blood donor, with his total lifetime donations exceeding 8 gallons. In June of 2014, Don retired from 45 years in the ministry and 40 years serving St. Paul Lutheran Church.

After retirement, he continued God’s work serving as interim pastor and filling vacancies throughout Nebraska in Cambridge, Ravenna, Curtis, Arapahoe, Elwood, Loup City, Merna, Holdrege, Shelton, Grand Island, Blue Hill, and Wood River. In 2002, Don and Sandy fulfilled their dream of owning “a property that he could park a boat in front of” and purchased a small cabin at El Charman Lake near Gibbon, Nebraska. They later renovated it so that it could live up to its full potential and become their final residence. They permanently moved into the cabin in 2021. It is here that their children, grandchildren, granddogs, and extended family could come to fish, boat, swim, catch up, and, most importantly, unwind.

Don’s passions were numerous including: baiting hooks with worms; untangling fishing lines; casting for largemouth bass; fly-fishing for bluegills; the smell of burning leaves in the fall; the taste of apple pie or apple crisp; model railroading; trains; maintenance at the El Charman cabin; the care of the many dogs, cats, and animals that frequented his residences; his Friday morning men’s Bible study; and visiting with others.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Sandy Becker of rural Gibbon; daughters Andrea (Sergio) Loya-Perez of Kearney, Nebraska; Jenny (Rob) Hultquist of Heartwell, Nebraska; Dr. HeatherBecker of Colorado Springs, Colorado; grandchildren, Drew (Katie) Hultquist of Morrill, Nebraska; Vanessa Loya-Perez of Omaha, Nebraska; Nathan Hultquist of Heartwell, Nebraska; Maria Loya-Perez of Lincoln, Nebraska; Sarah Hultquist of Heartwell, Nebraska; and Sergio Loya-Perez Jr. of Kearney, Nebraska; great-granddaughter, Kendal Hultquist (Drew and Katie) of Morrill, Nebraska; brother, Wes (Laurie) Becker of Wheaton, Illinois; sister-in-law, Kathy Becker of Anderson, South Carolina; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, extended relatives, and close friends.

Pastor Becker was preceded in death by his parents; his first-born infant brother; brothers, Russel (Chris) Becker, and Milton Becker; great-nephew, Luke Becker; and sister-in-law, Cathy Becker.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 2, 2024, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Minden. The service will be streamed to the church’s YouTube page. Interment will be held later that day at 3:00 p.m. at the Minden Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at Craig Funeral Home in Minden.

Memorials in Don’s honor are kindly suggested to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Minden, the Mary Lanning Healthcare – Morrison Cancer Center in Hastings, or to AseraCare Hospice in Kearney.

Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Sandy Becker, 4 El Charman Lake Place, Gibbon, Nebraska 68840.

Dorothea “Dottie” Elsie Koepp Huebschman, Commissioned Minister—Teacher Emerita, departed this life on October 29, 2024. Dottie was born on October 20, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, to Herb & Ella Koepp. Growing up, she attended Lutheran schools in the Chicago area (St. John’s and Luther North). She later graduated from Concordia Teachers College (now University), Seward, in 1962, and received a master’s degree in early childhood from Indiana University in 1980. Throughout her career she served as a teacher for preschool through third grade. Congregations and schools served include: Zion, Staplehurst, NE; Holy Cross, Ft. Wayne, IN; Messiah, Ft. Wayne, IN; and St. John, Seward, NE; retiring in July of 2003.

Mrs. Huebschman is survived by her husband, Ray Huebschman; son, Tim (Paula) Huebschman of Plymouth, WI; daughter, Kathy (Scott) McDonald of Overland Park, KS; son, Jeff (Erin) Huebschman of Lancaster, WI; grandchildren, Jaimie (Joshua) Ramsey; Eric (Bekah) Huebschman; Melody (Myles) Martinez; Jake (Faith) McDonald; Eli (Desi) McDonald; Isaac McDonald; and Sadie McDonald; and great-grandchildren, Peter, Jonathan, Christina, AnnElise, Grace, Titus, Harper, Carter, Lany, Truman, and Fox. Dottie is also survived by her brother Bob (Janet) Koepp and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her parents-in-law, brothers Herb and Howard, and sisters-in-law, Marge Trader and Millie Ayres.

Service arrangements are pending. Watch for details at https://www.volzkefuneralhome.com/obituary/DorotheaDottie-Huebschman.

Marvin Henry Plamann, Commissioned Minister—Teacher Emeritus, departed this life on September 7, 2024, in Seward, Nebraska. He was born on May 15, 1934, in Hiawatha, Kansas, to Homer and Charlotte (Reents) Plamann. Marvin became a child of God through baptism on July 22, l934, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hiawatha, Kansas, and was also confirmed at Zion on March 27, l948. He graduated from Concordia Teachers College (now University), Seward, in 1956, and received a Master’s Degree from St. Louis University in 1962. Schools served throughout his ministry include: Bethlehem, St. Louis, MO (1956-1961); and Concordia, Seward (1961-2002); retiring in December of 2002.

Marv developed a love of travel from his parents and passed this on to his students and his family. He had memberships in several professional organizations while at Concordia including Association of American Geographers, National Geographic Society and American Geographical Society, and Lutheran Education Association. He served as faculty advisor to the student Habitat for Humanity club and accompanied this group on several working trips throughout the US. In l983 he became the curator of the Bartels Museum and served in this capacity for more than twenty-five years.

After his teaching career ended, he worked part time in the Admission Office recruiting primarily second career teaching students. Years of service at St. John Church included membership on various boards and committees, including the School Board, the Christian Nurture Board, the Stewardship Board, and the Mission Committee. He especially enjoyed his work as chairman of the Mission Committee since this brought him into contact with a number of missionaries serving throughout the world. As a member of St. John Church, he sang in the choir, delivered worship tapes to homebound members, and helped with Christ Cupboard. He became a member of the Kiwanis Club of Seward and as such he sang in the Kitones, delivered backpacks to the schools of Seward, and helped with bingo activities at Kinship Pointe and Greene Senior Living. He also became an active member of Gideons International and served in various capacities with the Seward/Milford Camp.

Mr. Plamann is survived by his wife, Pearl; six children, Steven Plamann (Teresa), Rebecca Neumann (Gary), Kristine Krause (Jay), Mary Russell (Jack), Jennifer Krause (Jon), and Nicolas Plamann (Anita); 18 grandchildren, Rachel Schad (Tate), Andrew Plamann (fiancé Mallory), Katie Schiavone (Mike), Karly Hernandez (Jose), Kelly Hanna (Dusty), Daniel Neumann (Maddie), Lindsey Crumpacker (Aaron), Landon Neumann, Jacob Krause (Amanda), Aaron Krause (Gabbie), Korianne Krause, Benjamin Russell, Alexander Russell (Natalie), Jack Russell (fiancé Kaci), Matthew Krause (Sami), Timothy Krause (fiancé Maddie), Rebekah Krause, Joseph Krause; and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Ralph and Ella Richterkessing; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Fred and Lois Richterkessing; brother-in-law, David Richterkessing, and sister-in-law, Carol Goodall.

The funeral service will be held September 16, 2024, at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be Sunday, September 15 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home in Seward. Interment will be at the Seward Cemetery.

Memorials can be made in care of Concordia University, Nebraska (Plamann Church Worker Scholarship Fund); St. John Lutheran Church, Seward, Nebraska (Missions); and Orphan Grain Train.