Mildred Marie (Bartels) Rinne

In Loving Memory OfMildred M. (Bartels) RinneMildred M. (Bartels) Rinne, of Cordova, died Saturday, December 10, 2005 at BryanLGH West Medical Center in Lincoln of stroke complications at the age of 77 years and 22 days. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was born November 18, 1928 near Steinauer, Nebraska to Emil and Emelie (Beckmann) Bartels, the younger of two children. As a young girl, Mildred attended country school and later gradated from Tecumseh Public School with the class of 1946. For a short time, Mildred worked for the hospital in Tecumseh. She was baptized, confirmed and later married at St. Peter's Lutheran Church near Elk Creek where she and Gerald had attended church together. On August 27, 1947 she was united in marriage to her childhood sweetheart Gerald Rinne and they were blessed with three children, Shirley, Rex and Tim. Together they began their married life in Beatrice where she worked for the Beatrice Times newspaper until her children were born. Mildred then stayed home raising her children. Later she and Gerald made their homes in Nebraska, Wyoming and Missouri before moving to Cordova in 1997. In her spare time, she enjoyed genealogy and often clipped articles to save for that "future" scrapbook. She was presently a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Cordova though she was a member of many Lutheran congregations as she and her husband lived several places in Nebraska, Wyoming and Missouri. She was a life-long woman of faith, loved by her family and was the most selfless person who only cared about others. She was always thoughtful and empathetic of the needs of others, a living example of faith to her family and friends. She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Gerald Rinne, Cordova, three devoted children and spouses, Shirley and Terry Gautreaux, Friend, Rev. Rex and Linda Rinne, Tisovec, Slovakia, Tim Rinne and wife, Kay Walter, Lincoln. She was a grandmother to Nathan Rinne and his wife, Sheila, Minneapolis, MN, Joel Rinne, Appleton, WI, Joshua Rinne, Madison, WI, Dr. Keith Gautreaux, Wray CO, Jeffrey Gautreaux, Yuma AZ, Elliott Gautreaux, Colorado Springs, CO, and Anna Walter, Bloomington IN, and two great-grandchildren, Samuel and Simeon. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Leola Bartels, Lincoln, Marilyn Paul, St. Louis, MO, and Dianna Shomaker, Albuquerque, NM, a brother-in-law, Delbert Rinne, Lincoln, MO, many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her only brother, Eugene Bartels, a sister-in-law, Arlene Rinne, and three brothers-in-law, Lloyd and Keith Rinne, and Rev. LeRoy Paul. A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2005 at St. John's Lutheran Church, followed by a Christian burial at Zastrow Cemetery, all in Cordova, with Rev. Arnold Jurchen officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday 7-9 p.m and Friday 9-9 at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend, and one hour before services at the church. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers to St. John's Lutheran Church, Lutheran Hour Ministries, or to the Cordova Volunteer Fire and Rescue.