Raised on a farm in Schuyler, NE, she adopted an attitude that to keep life full you need to keep it fun. While studying at Hastings College, she met the love of her life, Gary, at the Old Oak Ballroom in Schuyler. They enjoyed 55 wonderful years of family and adventure before Gary passed away in 2012. Throughout her life Eileen used her talents in teaching, managing staff, and organizing special events, always bringing the fun. She would turn every event into a party, whether that was Husker game day, July Fourth or Christmas.
Over her journey with Gary, she taught in Fullerton schools, finished her education degree at Kearney State College, and relocated to Holdrege, NE, which became “home” for her.
Foremost in Eileen’s life was her commitment to faith in Christ, which became central after she and her husband gave their hearts to the Lord during a Lay Witness Mission. As her faith grew, she became devoted to serving Him by designing hymns and choruses mixed with scripture each week for services at Trinity Church in Holdrege. She discovered how music and worship touched the lives of children by leading the Sonshine Singers, a choir of more than 60 children that performed biannual musicals, designed and staged by Eileen.
Her heart for serving children also led her to become the founding director of the Trinity Childcare Center in Holdrege, licensed for 150 children to help support young families. She guided the center for many years before discovering a new joy in working at a local gift shop. She and Gary soon felt called by the Lord to open Treasures of the Heart, a Christian book and gift store, in Holdrege. It became far more than just a store. Eileen and Gary built such a warm, welcoming environment that locals frequently stepped inside just to connect with the community and share a conversation. After retiring from the store, she returned to teaching elementary school music. Following Gary’s passing, she moved to Lincoln to be closer to her children, though Holdrege always remained “home” in her heart.
Family members include her children, Steven Michael Yost (Timaree) of Omaha and Nancy Huckabee (Michael) of Lincoln; eight grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gary, and her brothers, Jack, William, and Robert Wolfe.
Following a family graveside service at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, NE, a memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, at Trinity Church in Holdrege.
Memorials are welcome at Trinity Church, 613 18th Ave., Holdrege, NE.