She was born on July 13, 1929, in Kramer, Nebraska to William and Elizabeth (Unger) Suess. She was baptized in the Crete German Congregational Church by JE Schatz on October 12, 1930.
About that time, Mary Lou went to live with her father Bill’s, sister and husband, Uncle Matthias and Aunt Hannah (Suess) Wendelin. Their son Martin, age 11, was now a big brother! The family lived on the family farm, 8 miles due east of Crete.
When Mary Lou became school age, they moved to Hickman, NE, nearby. Their home was directly across from the school grounds, and she attended Hickman School through high school. The family became members of and worshipped at the Hickman Presbyterian Church.
Upon graduation from high school in 1947, Mary Lou spent a year living with relatives while studying at McCook Junior College. However, she was too homesick to continue and returned to Hickman. She graduated from Lincoln School of Commerce where she met her husband, LA “Phil” Philippi of Belvidere, NE. He had recently mustered out of the army where he had served in the European theater of WWII as a medic.
They were married June 18, 1949 in Hickman Presbyterian Church where Mary Lou had been confirmed as a 15 year old. They lived in Lincoln and had jobs in stenography and accounting.
To this couple, three children were born, James Edward, March 13, 1950, Nancy Louise, May 28, 1952, and Jean Dianne, December 26, 1956. As a stay-at-home mom during her children’s formative years, watching her children grow and become good citizens was her greatest joy, as well as grounding them in the Christian faith. She enjoyed gardening, canning, baking, sewing clothes for the “girls”, and reading.
The family became members of the Fourth Presbyterian Church in the University Place where they became close to Rev. EL Jeambey and his wife, Clara (Graham) Jeambey. Their many friends from 4th Presbyterian were their life long social group and they were active in the many areas of Church Life; The Mariners, Bridge, Circle, VBS, Sunday School, Camping, Picnics, Deacon, and Elder.
In the 60s, Mary Lou’s secretarial skills were put to good use as Church Secretary for the Rev. Curt Barnett who had become pastor after E.L. and later as her husband’s part-time secretary at Gateway Manor Retirement Community on 56th and “O” Street.
Mary Lou was ordained as an elder on January 18, 1976, serving three years. Mary Lou served as Saturday receptionist at Westminster Presbyterian Church for almost two decades. During this time, she accompanied a group of Westminster attendees to their sister Church in East Germany. Crossing the border in Berlin from West to East in October 1989 was difficult, however, after a week
there, they returned to the West, but something had changed …the “Wall” had come down! Being out of communication, they had no idea how that week of their stay had become historic.
After working alongside her husband in the founding, building and administration of Gateway Manor, she became its third Administrator a few years after Mr. Philippi’s passing on August 28, 1976.
In 1978, and after 21 years on Cleveland Ave, she and Jean moved to south Lincoln, into Rolling Hills subdivision.
Born July 2, 1989, when Mary Lou was 60, her sole grandchild, Benjamin, brought lots of laughter into her life and included trips to visit him in New York and Chicago. They loved playing Scrabble together as soon as he could read and spell out the words.
During retirement, Mary Lou enjoyed quilting at Church, delivering Meals on Wheels, teaching reading to the disabled and remaining committed to the election process as judge, along with volunteering her time with the Republican Party. Whether by planes, trains, or automobiles, Mary Lou loved travelling with her children in her retirement years.
When the children insisted, she moved into independent living at the Landing at Williamsburg in the spring of 2015, so she no longer had to be responsible for meals. Sadly, her son, Jim, was diagnosed with cancer that October.
She never fully recovered from Jim’s untimely passing in March of 2016 at the young age of 66. Within a few months, she moved into the assisted living wing at the Landing and a year later into the skilled nursing facility, The Cove House, across the parking lot. She was there seven years, the longest of anyone at the time of her passing. Even through dementia, she always knew us and was thrilled to have us visit.
Our mom received such loving and wonderful care from the Cove House staff, all of whom the family would like to thank most sincerely. From her aides, nurses, hairdresser, Joyce, to the cooks who were careful to purée her meals, the kindnesses have warmed our hearts. Over the years we, her family (Dale, Louise and Jean) met and loved many residents there and feel blessed to have known these souls of the “Greatest Generation”.
Having lived a great many years, Mary Lou is preceded in death by so many. Her parents, Elizabeth and Bill Suess and their sons, Ervin, Bill and Harold Paul Suess, her adoptive parents, Hannah and Matthias Wendelin, husband, L.A. (Phil) Philippi, and son, James E. Philippi. Brother Martin and his wife, Elinor Wendelin, their sons Michael and Gary. Phil’s brother, Dewayne and his wife, Norma Philippi and their son, Steven Philippi. Sister-in-law, Jeanette, and sons, Gilbert, Herbert, and Douglas Simmons.
She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Louise (Dale) Yamamoto of Chicago, Illinois and Jean Philippi of Granby, Colorado. Her grandson, Ben Yamamoto, Fraser, Colorado and her great-granddaughter, Lyla Yamamoto, Bolingbrook, Illinois. Nephews, David Wendelin, and Eric Samuel Wendelin continue to live on the family farm near Crete where Mary Lou had lived nearly a hundred
years ago. Nephew John (Kathy) Philippi, Steven’s wife, Shirley and special niece-in-law, Gil’s wife, Barbara (Brokaw) Simmons, all of Arizona.
Services are being held Saturday, March 15, 10:30 a.m. at Roper and Sons – South, 3950 Hohensee Drive, Lincoln, 68516, Pastor Jeff Warrick of Good Shepherd Presbyterian presiding, followed by a light lunch. 1:00 graveside and interment service will be held at Lincoln Memorial Park, 6800 S 14th St, Lincoln, 68512 (north side of cemetery, near the Four Apostles statues).
Memorials may be sent to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 8300 E Pointe Rd, Lincoln, 68506 and The People’s City Mission, 110 Q Street, Lincoln, 68508.
There will be Visitation from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 14 at Roper and Sons – South.