Lorraine M. Lieswald

Atkinson — Lorraine Merle Lieswald, 87, of Atkinson, died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Stuart.

Private family graveside services were held on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Atkinson.

Memorials may be made to a charity of the giver's choice in Lorraine's name.

Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson was in charge of the arrangements.

Lorraine wrote her own obituary as follows:

My name is Lorraine Merle (Farrier) Lieswald.  I was born Sept. 19, 1936 in Chambers, and according to my mother, it was 111 degrees. I was the third child of eight children born to Velma (Hardy) Farrier and Hylas Raymond Farrier. I was baptized the following Easter at the United Methodist Church in Chambers. I received my formal education in the Chambers School system and at Wayne State Teacher's College.

My first job was that of an errand runner for an elderly neighbor when I was nine years old. I knew I didn't want to do errand running all my life, so when I was 12 years old I took up baby-sitting. This was a better occupation but the hours were terrible and the wages not the best. This made me second think my choices and I chose being a waitress mostly because of the tips. I was doing great until one New Year's Eve when some over zealous men barged into the café at the stroke of midnight and tore out a wall of the café in celebration of the New Year. That was it.

I decide to become a teacher. This was a good fit. I was doing great until one Sunday morning in church when I noticed Bob Lieswald giving me the eye…Teaching was over!

Bob and I were married June 22, 1958 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Chambers. We lived in Fremont, Fairmont, Bruning and Lincoln before moving to Atkinson in 1973. In between moves we had Robert Jr., Jeffrey, Scott and Becky. After the kids were in school I decided to begin a new career delivering the Omaha World Herald to paper customers in and around Atkinson. Trying to keep busy I also was a writer/photographer for the Atkinson Graphic. My childhood ambition was to write a book and when the Boucher family asked me to write the story of their mother's life, with her help, I wrote, “Up North On The River.”

When Riddles and Rhymes Preschool needed a teacher, I knew I was it. I loved the kids and enjoyed the nine years I taught there as a second teacher.

Firmly believing God had a plan for one's life I tried to give back with the talents I was given. I did this as a Christian Clown in a clown troupe, in community drama events, volunteering at school and local events and being active in my church.

When Bob's health began to fail in 2006 I resigned whatever I was doing and we spent a few months together as retirees before his death that December.

Throughout my life I enjoyed watching things grow, Bible studies, reading, sewing, crocheting, knitting and especially and foremost my grandkids and great-grandkids. They kept me on my toes and helped me stay young at heart. I was proud of my kids and their independence as well as their care for their fellowman.

When I was a child things were not always the way I wanted them to be, so one day when I was six years old I decided to escape from a family situation I didn't like by climbing to heaven. A cherry tree in our yard was the logical climbing ladder so I started up. When I climbed to the top of the that tree and couldn't go any higher I looked up and it was then I realized I couldn't get to heaven by myself, nor could anyone else. I needed to ask for help and then and only then would I get to Heaven. With that realization I cooled off and began to climb down the tree. But with the assurance that I had a special friend that would always be with me and would be helping me in good times and bad times until He decided it was time for me to climb beyond that cherry tree. His name is Jesus.

In Heaven I will meet Bob Sr. and Bob Jr., my parents, my three sisters Jeanne, Ardeth and Karen and my brother Gary (Ann).

Still waiting to make the climb are my children Jeffrey (Laurie), Scott (Linda), Becky (Tim) Borer; seven grandkids Jenna (Preston) Hoffman, April (Beau) Barrett, Brett (Becky) Lieswald, Andrew (Allie) Lieswald, Sarah (Joel) Mapes, Brendan (Andrea) Borer, Madison (Parker) Theisen and Ben (Jordan) Borer; three step-grandchildren Jeremy (Jamie Lorraine) Peterson, Jacob (Danika) Peterson and Jamie (Kathryn) Peterson; 25 great-grandchildren Elle, Ryder and Aislynn Hoffman, Hadley, Jack, Quinn and Arlo Barrett, Rory, Riggs and Renley Lieswald, Tommy Mapes, Brody and Anistyn Borer, Rohan and Watson Borer, Liam, Niko and Zoey Theisen, Bodhi, Nach and Willow Peterson, Adeline, Leon and Emmelyn Peterson and Rafe Peterson: two brothers Harold (Linda) Farrier and Jerry (Angie) Farrier; and a sister Gayle.