Funeral Services For Ginny Werkmeister

Funeral services for Virginia “Ginny” Werkmeister, age 77, of Tilden, Nebraska will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 15, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilden. Reverend Michael Awe will officiate, with burial in Lutheran Cemetery in Tilden.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Brockhaus-Harlan Funeral Home in Tilden.

Ginny died Monday, October 12, 2015, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Virginia “Ginny” Lee Werkmeister, daughter of Ulis Buren and Enoth Gertrude Bratten, was born December 6, 1937, at Butler, Oklahoma. She attended Hagar Elementary, a one room school outside of Shawnee, Oklahoma, and graduated from La Puente High School in La Puente, California in 1956. On June 24, 1956, she was united in marriage to Marvin Werkmeister in California. Three children were born to them: Eric Craig, Neil Jeffrey, and Sandra Lynn.

The couple lived in California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Columbus, Nebraska before settling in Tilden, Nebraska in 1966, on a farm south of town. Ginny loved to tackle numerous hobbies and interests over the years while staying home to raise the children. Some of these were sewing, making elaborate costumes, growing huge gardens, canning and freezing the bounty, refinishing furniture, the latest arts and crafts and decorations for the home and helping on the farm.

After the children left home, she operated Ginny’s Garden Greenhouse on the farm for many years, developing multiple display gardens of everything for sale in the greenhouses. Ginny also joined the harvest for a few years, learning to run the combine and loving every minute of it. She enjoyed travel and her and Marve enjoyed many trips together, with trips to Germany and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina being highlights, second only to multiple trips visiting kids, grandkids, siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins all over the country. As members of the Country Spinners Square Dance Club for 15 years, she and Marve enjoyed many travels with them as well. After closing the greenhouse for retail, she began dedicating her time to beautifying downtown Tilden for Prairie Days with flowers, including several central public gardens, the library grounds, and of course her gorgeous hanging flower baskets. She was thrilled to be named “Tilden’s Outstanding Citizen” in 2012 for her efforts.

Ginny was a member of the local Immanuel Lutheran Church and loved serving at her church in many different roles over the years.

Ginny is survived by her husband, Marvin of Tilden, Nebraska; three children, Eric of Montclair, California, Neil (Cindy) of Tilden, and Sandra of Loveland, Colorado; four grandchildren, Jesse, Jacob (Traci), and Rory Werkmeister and Lacy (Nick) Alderman; four great-grandchildren, Grady and Marlee Werkmeister and Noah and Liam Alderman; three siblings, brother, Richard Bratten, and sisters, Reba Harrison and Anita Bailey; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins whom she treasured.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Ferrell and Elgin Bratten; and one sister, Frieda Burrows.

The family requests that memorial donations in Ginny's name can be made to your favorite charity or to one of the following: 


LITTLE LAMBS DAYCARE
for debt reduction from new facility
500 S Center St., Tilden NE 68781


LADIES AIDE GROUP at Immanual Lutheran Church for Missions Outreach
500 S Center St., Tilden, NE 68781

PRAIRIE DAYS FLOWER PROJECT in Tilden, Nebraska