Helen Virginia Hatcher Hotze

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

March 29, 1923 - April 30, 2015

AURORA, Colo. -- Helen Virginia Hatcher Hotze, 92, native of Red Willow County, Nebraska, died in Aurora, Colorado, on April 30, 2015, after brief illness.

Helen was born on March 29, 1923, the first of three daughters born to Osma Paul and May Morosic Hatcher. Her father was a farmer and her mother a homemaker and Helen enjoyed her life as a farm child. Helen graduated from Red Willow High School in 1940. When she was 19 years old, she went on a date with Clarence Edward Hotze, a neighboring farm boy who was home on furlough from the Army Air Corp. They were married just a short time later, before he returned to active duty. Helen continued her education at McCook Junior College in McCook, Nebraska, while Clarence was gone. After Clarence's tour of duty was over, Helen and Clarence made their home on a farm near Indianola, Nebraska, just a few miles away from both sets of parents.

Three children were born to their union: Richard Hatcher, Anita Maureen, and Joelene Renee. Helen was active in the Methodist Church and the County Extension Club. She was an excellent cook and seamstress and as a farm wife, cooked big meals for harvesters and farm workers. She always wanted to teach and so she finished her degree from McCook Junior College and then taught elementary school in Indianola. During the time she was teaching, the state law required a four year teaching degree, so after teaching all day, she drove to Kearney to attend evening classes and received her bachelor's degree, graduating in 1977 in education. She enjoyed teaching for over 30 years before she retired.

As her children grew older and she had more time, Helen enjoyed attending many Bible studies and fellowship groups at the Memorial United Methodist Church of McCook, where she was a member, and also at the Nazarene Church. She also enjoyed going to dances in McCook and the surrounding area, and participating in the Retired Teachers' Association meetings. In 2006 she moved from her home on the farm to a home in McCook, but her heart was still on the farm with the wide-open views of pastures and Coon Creek. In 2011, she moved to Aurora, Colorado, to be near her daughter, Maureen.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence, in 1991; and her son, Richard, in 2010.

She is survived by her daughters, Maureen Bowles of Aurora, Colorado, and Joelene Hotze, of Petersburg, Virginia; daughter- in-law, Margaret Hotze of Fort Collins, Colorado; eight grandchildren: Richard's children, Kathryn Greiner, Patty Carmichael, and Elizabeth Bartell; Maureen's children, Colleen Rodin and Susan Dahir; Joelene's children, Gabrielle, Michael, and Sascha Shahramfar; and 14 great-grandchildren; and sister, Shirley Nelms of McCook. She will be remembered as a feisty, capable, independent woman who always stocked up on doughnuts and treats when the grandchildren came to visit.

Visitation will be 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2015. Celebration of Life will be at Memorial United Methodist Church of McCook on Saturday, May 9, 2015, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Alisa Parde. Casket will be open at the church at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at the Indianola Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be left in her name at the Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel On-line condolences may be left at herrmannfh.com

Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.