Myrtha Elizabeth (Hessheimer) Wolverton was born Oct. 15, 1924, on a farm near Crete to Mathias and Elizabeth (Schenamsgruber) Hessheimer, into a family of seven children.
She was baptized, Nov. 8, 1924, by Pastor A.H. Cholcher, and confirmed April 10, 1938, by Pastor William Pebler. Her memory verse when she was confirmed was from John 6: 68
“Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”
And her confirmation verse was John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”
Another verse Myrtha liked is found in Revelations 2: 10
“Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Myrtha attended parochial school and graduated from Crete High School in 1942. She completed a typing course at Lincoln School of Commerce and worked at several typing positions in Colorado and Washington. Returning to Nebraska, she worked at Globe Laundry in Lincoln, where she met the love of her life, George. They were married Nov. 16, 1945, by Pastor Worthman, at Trinity Lutheran Church. This union was blessed with three children, Michael, Kathy Stastny and Sandy Oswald.
As a member of Bethlehem’s Ladies Aide, she called church members for arranging weekly alter flowers and embroidered the shell on white hankies for baptisms. She also enjoyed quilting with the ladies at church and did so into her late 90s. Quilting was her pastime, and she enjoyed making wall-hangings and quilts for everyone in her family, as well as donating quilts to the church to be used as needed.
Myrtha was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a member of the Past President Auxiliary since 1980. Through these organizations, she made many new friends outside of her church activities and was happy to see them at her 100th birthday celebration.
Myrtha was called home Dec. 21, 2024, and is preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, George; mother, father, sister, Dorothy, and brothers, Ervin, Elmer, Robert, Donald and her twin, Maynard. She is survived by her children, Mike Wolverton of Crete, Kathy (Mark) Stastny of Crete, and Sandra (Allen) Oswald of Lincoln; grandchildren, Jason (Hilary) Oswald of Colorado, Crystal Oswald of Illinois, Andrew (Tracy) Stastny of Martell, and Michaela (Taylor) Sirman of Florida. She is also survived by several great-grandchildren, and many dear friends.
Visitation will be Sunday, Dec. 29, from 2 - 4 p.m. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. The funeral service will be Monday, Dec. 30, at 11 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Crete. Memorial contributions are suggested to the church quilting fund or Lambs of Christ preschool. Arrangements by Kuncl Funeral Home.
