Family members include her husband, Henry; son Stan (Deb) Lowell, daughters Jolene (Mike) Henney, & Jackie (Dave) Dietze. Grandchildren Angie (Jim) Kelsay, Nicole (Ed) Keifer, Lindsey (Matt) Miller, Chris Dietze (Shayna Wirges), Sarah Henney (Matt Kiemle), & Justin Henney. Great Grandchildren Jaden (Abbie), Keagan & Braxton Wheeler, Austin, Lillyn, Emilyn and Carson Keifer, and Trenton & Raegan Miller. Great-Great Grandson Ezra Wheeler. Siblings Martha Holman, Brother-in-laws Wes (Vi) Lowell and Ron Polvado, nieces, nephews & cousins.
Preceded in death by her parents & parent in-laws, brothers Raymond (Allene), Clarence (Ruthie), sister Verna Polvado, sister-in-law Betty (Bob) Thomson, & brother-in-law Dave Holman.
Wilma moved with her family to Ashland NE in the late 1930’s. Growing up Wilma was interested in music & played the violin & piano. She enjoyed & excelled in her school studies. The summer before her junior year she began dating fellow classmate Henry Lowell, both graduating in 1952 from Ashland High School. September 20,1953 they were married in Ashland. After adding three children to their family, in October 1957 they moved from their rural home west of Ashland with no indoor plumbing to a new ranch style home in Waverly NE where they thrived & raised their family. Wilma worked for 31 years in the Waverly Schools, first in the lunchroom & then as a grade school teacher’s assistant. The favorite part of her work was working with children. She was also active in the United Methodist Church of Wavery, serving for many years as the Funeral Committee chair, Festival of Tables chair, & a member of United Methodist Women volunteering for their many activities. She was also a Cub Scout & a 4-H Leader. After retirement, she was a Teammates mentor for many years
Throughout their 71-year marriage Henry & Wilma enjoyed boating & water-skiing at local lakes & annual vacations to the Lake of the Ozark’s (Yes, Wilma skied even though she could not swim – and she learned to drive the boat while pulling skiers!). They enjoyed sports, attending Cornhusker football games into their 80’s as well as many other University & grandchildren/great-grandchildren sporting events. They were a talented ballroom dancing couple spending many weekend evenings at Pla Mor Ballroom.
They enjoyed traveling including trips to all 50 states, Dominican Republic, South Korea, Dubai, Egypt, Austria, Germany & Poland.
Wilma inspired her family with her example of being a wife, mother, grandmother & great grandmother & everything she did for her family. She was a gifted seamstress creating many outfits for her children including their fall & winter school wardrobes when they were young. She sewed for her grandkids & great grandkids & happily babysat them on many occasions. She was an avid crafter enjoying cross-stich, embroidery, ceramics & quilting – her family’s homes are adorned with many of her handmade treasures. She was a great cook & baker. A few of her culinary specialties were lasagna, spaghetti pie, cherry pie (with fresh picked cherry’s), Cherry Jumble, homemade French fries, drop donuts, fried chicken, and a chocolate marshmallow dessert. Her family was trying to recall her favorite cookie & concluded she never met a cookie she did not like! She also canned & froze many vegetables from their garden & shared its abundance with family & friends. The last garden was planted in 2021, the same year they moved to The Legacy in Lincoln from their ranch style home of 64 years.
Wilma loved life & loved a good laugh – we already miss her terribly, but this will not overshadow the joy she brought to her family & friends & our many, many wonderful memories!
A Celebration of Wilma’s life will be held on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Waverly First United Methodist Church, 14410 Folkestone St, Waverly, NE.
In lieu of flowers, the family request’s memorials in Wilma’s name be made to Waverly First United Methodist Church, TeamMates, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Livestream available at: https://firstumcwaverly.org/worship/