Phyllis Struckman

Phyllis J. Struckman, 90, longtime resident of Brule, Nebraska passed away Nov. 25, 2016 at the Perkins County Hospital in Grant, Neb.

Phyllis was born June 2, 1926, nine miles north of Brule to Sebastian “Bud” and Anna Marie (Witt) Spoeneman.

Phyllis attended District 46 School north of Brule before graduating from the Ogallala High School in Ogallala, Neb., with the class of 1943. She went on to graduate from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1947.

On Sept. 28, 1948, Phyllis was united in marriage to Paul L. Struckman at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Ogallala. The couple made their home in Brule where they raised their five children.

Phyllis worked as a registered nurse in Keith County for nearly 50 years, primarily at the Ogallala Community Hospital. She was honored with the Caring Kind Award just a year before her retirement in 1999.

In most recent years, Phyllis had made her home at Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant, where she enjoyed interacting with the nursing staff and keeping everyone on their toes.

Phyllis enjoyed gardening, reading and crossword puzzles. When Phyllis had the remote, she was either watching EWTN or Nebraska Cornhusker athletics, both of which she loved and vocally supported.

Phyllis was a longtime member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Ogallala, where she had been active in the altar society and had served on the parish council.

Phyllis was sharp, quick-witted and typically held strong and informed opinions about the things she cared about. She was an excellent cook and cared deeply for her family. She was a proponent of life-long learning, and encouraged her children and grandchildren to pursue higher education.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; son, Joe; sister and brother-in-law, Francis and Dave White; and brother, Robert Spoeneman.

Survivors include her children: Pat (Jean) Struckman and Tom (Sharon) Struckman, all of Brule, Mary Liz Wiest (Alan) of Lincoln, Dana (Ann) Struckman of Newport, Rhode Island; 16 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren with another on the way; sister, Mary Ann (Jim) Rumer of California; along with many other relatives and friends.

A memorial has been established in her memory. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com.

Mass of Christian Burial was Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Ogallala with Father Bryan Ernest as celebrant. Burial was in the Ogallala Cemetery.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.