Rodella Wacker, 95, of Wayne, died Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at Providence Medical Center in Wayne.
Public graveside services will be held Friday, July 3 at 11 a.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Wayne. The Rev. Jim Splitt and PMA Deb Hammer will offiicate. There will be no public visitation.
Memorials may be directed to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Wayne.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
Rodella Avanel Wacker was born Nov. 4, 1924 in Grand Junction, Colo. At the age of two she moved to Nebraska. Her parents were Ludwig Hinerich and Lucy Ann (Kester) Gramberg. She attended country schools in Nebraska where she graduated from Wayne High School in May 1942. Rodella later attended Wayne State College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in teaching on May 29, 1947. Her first job was a school teacher in Hinton, Iowa where she taught mathematics and home economics. She later taught in the Laurel Public Schools, Wayne Public Schools, and became the Wayne public librarian. She enjoyed canning, quilting, playing bridge, and camping trips and was passionate about sewing.
Rodella was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, was a church council member, and was involved in many other church activities. Her favorite Bible passage from a young age was Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.
Rodella fell in love with World War II veteran Herman (Bud) Walter Wacker and was wed on June 13, 1948 in Wayne. Rodella and Bud celebrated 54 years of marriage until Bud’s death March 16, 2003. She was known to be a loving caretaker early in life as she helped raise her sister and four brothers on a farm outside of Wayne. She sought adventure and traveled to San Francisco for new opportunities, but returned home to care for her dying father. Rodella shared eternal optimism to those who met her and lived a life of compassion toward others, always stating that she was “blessed”.
Survivors include her son, Timothy and wife, Cinda, of Lincoln, two grandchildren, Eric, great granddaughters, Brooklynn and Brittneay, Jason and wife, Lydia, and great-grandchildren, Emerleigh and Hudson; daughter, Jeannie Marie and husband, Bill Mills, of Parsons, Kan., two grandchildren, Caleb and wife, Dayane, great-grandson, Sebastian, granddaughter, Haley and husband, Jason, great-grandsons, Joel and Isaac; son, Roger Allan and wife, Ann, of Houston, Texas, two granddaughters, Jeannette Jewell and Michelle Avanel; two brothers, Gilbert Gramberg, Merlyn Gramberg, and wife, Karleen, and sister, Joy West.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and two brothers, Kenneth and Dale.
Pallbearers will be Bill Mills, Tim Wacker, Roger Wacker, Eric Wacker, Jason Wacker and Caleb Parker.
