Vergene (Papke) Vandergriend was born to Carl and Mary Papke in Beatrice grew up in rural Cortland, NE, and lived the dream life of an outgoing farm girl. Spunky and always in trouble, she and her brother Dale always seemed to find some adventure. She was very close to her father and grew up popular, a cheerleader and went on to stenographer school. She took a job at the Journal Star for some time until she met her fiancé Alvin, a Marine; tall, quiet and handsome. They married, had three sons Bruce, Larry and Kurt and raised them on the farm, first near Adams then settling for the rest of their years near Firth. In later life she worked for Firth co-op but most time was spent keeping her sons out of trouble, which was difficult, and mostly unsuccessful. Her passion was the church library and singing. And frogs. Lots of frogs. As her sons got married her passions overwhelmingly became her grandchildren. Then great-grandchildren. According to her they were all the smartest kids alive and she loved on them lavishly, especially at Christmas. Christmas at Gma’s was a raucous affair. The food was bizarre, she never dusted or cleaned, but nobody cared; it was all about family and laughter and great joy. She spent many years attending Lied center events and participated in many plays, both at church and for OLLI and traveling the world. After Alvin’s sudden passing she spent 20 stubborn years alone on the farm until her body succumbed to her mind’s refusal to quit. She is well remembered for strutting the farm with a cane, bossing her sons around stubbornly; she was always right. Her refusal to back down from anyone in spite of her diminutive size resulted in all of her sons actually turning out to be fine upstanding citizens and men of God. “Just love them thru it”. She is proceeded in death by her parents, Carl and Mary, sister, Lorraine (Leon), husband, Alvin, great-grandson, Braxton, and is survived by sons, Bruce (Arlene), Larry (*Monica) and Kurt (Vicki), grandchildren, Shawn (*Liz), Chad (Misty), Tracy, Seth, Drew, Megan, Beth (Brad), Ryan (Ashlyn), step grand children, Ally, Tommy, Jay and great-grandchildren, Grace, Luke, Levi, Asher, River, Alexa, Ryker, Eden and Laura (one more boy on the way!) There is a large vacuum in the Vandergriend family, but great celebration in Heaven.
Funeral Service will be held 2:00 pm Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Living Life Church, 603 Russell Street, Firth, NE.
Visitation will take place 1 hour prior to the Service at the Church.
Burial following the service at Firth Cemetery.
Memorials to Living Life Church.