Vera Christina Redmer

TRENTON -- Vera Christina Redmer went to be with her Lord on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008, at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, Colo., at the age of 92.

She was born Oct. 17, 1916, at Trenton in Hitchcock County, the sixth child of Albert M. and Johanna (Rasmussen) Hedke. She grew up on a large farm south of Trenton with her five siblings and walked across wheat fields and pasture land to attend grade school in District 14, known as Prairie Dell.

She had chores that she did around the farm, tending cattle, helping her mother with housework, canning, cooking and preparing meals for groups of farmers who did threshing and combining crops in the neighborhood.

When she was 16, she met and married one of these hired men, a farmer from a nearby farm, Louie Julius Redmer. During the first years of their marriage was the Great Depression. They lived in a small house in Trenton, where Louie found work with the WPA, a work organization organized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to aid people in the serious time. It was during this time that their first child, Sylvia Mae was born in this little three room house in Trenton in 1934.

Soon after Louie and Vera moved to a farm east of Trenton, near the Redmer homestead. Here they spent several happy years. When Sylvia was about four years old, they moved to a rented farm located in a creek valley south of Trenton. Vera was a busy farmer's wife with gardening, cooking, rearing her daughter, plus all the other activities associated with farm living.

Here Sylvia attended the same school that Vera attended in grade school, District 14. There was a farm 10 miles from their rented farm that Louie and Vera were able to purchase. This was the first farm that they owned. Here they spent time, among other activities, building new buildings and remodeling the house. All this work was done with the help of Vera's father, Albert Hedke. Here their second daughter, Gloria Ann in 1941, and their third daughter, Lindia Kay in 1945, were born in the hospital.

After several years of poor crops, Louie was willing to give up farming. This time they moved their family to a new home in McCook. Louie worked in town and Vera tended to her children and household duties. An opportunity arose for Louie to buy a farm at Ault, Colo. He took this opportunity and moved his family to a neat little country home. Taking care of the livestock and irrigating turned out to be too much work for Louie and Vera.

They decided to move back to Trenton. One more move was made to Juniata, before they settled permanently back in Trenton. They purchased a house that Vera's father had built on his farm. This house was lifted from its foundation and moved to Trenton. That was a big project, but it turned out to be a very comfortable home for Vera and Louie.

Vera was active in community activities, took craft courses, entertained her children and grandchildren.

She was employed by El Dorado Manor Nursing Home in Trenton from 1972-1978. Also she and Louie went on several tours of the U.S., during this time.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louie on Jan. 6, 1988; one daughter, Gloria Simmons on April 18, 1983; two brothers, Elmer and Floyd Hedke; and three sisters, Gladys Heigh, Marie Darby and Ethel Weigel.

Vera remained living in her home until August of 2003, at which time she moved to Kersey, Colo., to live in a neat little house next door to her daughter, Lindia.

Vera is survived by daughters, Sylvia Kaldahl and husband, Clarence of Dayton, Ohio and Lindia Brown and husband, Kenneth of Kersey; grandchildren, Lana Stevens of Beavercreek, Ohio, Sonya Evans of Highland, Calif., Richard Simmons of Roanoke, Va., LaDonna Moore of Lutherville, Md., Christine Rousch of Kersey, Colo., Carmon Roth of Wray, Colo., and Tracy Branch of Eaton, Colo.; great-grandchildren, Aaron and Michael Rousch, Nicole, Heather and Bethany Roth, Shaylyn, Shilah, Keanon, Aiden and Axton Branch, Audra Simmons and Eric, Andrew, Alexa and Ian Stevens.

Vera was a kind woman who believed in Jesus. She was a thoughtful, loving mother. Her influence will always be remembered by those whose lives she touched. May we all be together in great Resurrection when Jesus returns to earth the second time.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, at United Methodist Church in Trenton with the Rev. Richard Karr officiating. Interment will be in the Trenton Cemetery.

Memorials may be given in her name and friends may call Herrmann Funeral Home in Trenton from 9 a.m. - 9 pm.

Herrmann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.