Doris Jean I. Rech

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Doris Jean I. Rech

Aug. 3, 1931 – Nov. 3, 2019

Doris Jean Irene Rech was born Aug. 3, 1931, on a farm near Lawrence to John Paul and Josephine Julia (Kitten) Himmelberg and passed away Nov. 3, 2019, at the age of 88 years and 3 months. She was the fifth of 11 children. Doris Jean attended a country school near her home for two years before moving to Lawrence where she attended Sacred Heart through eighth grade and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1949. After graduation, she moved to Lincoln and worked at St. Elizabeth’s and then Elgin Watch Company.

On June 1, 1954, Doris Jean married Donald Richard Rech in Lawrence, and they made their home on a farm near Ulysses. To this union, six children were born. She was a stay-at-home mom until 1984 when she began working at David City Manufacturing and retired in 2008 after 25 years of service. She was an excellent seamstress, cook and baker and was well-known for her kolaches, strudel, pie and cinnamon rolls. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Doris Jean was a longtime member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Altar Society and the Ulysses Community Club.

Doris Jean was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald (1976); parents-in-law, Emil and Anna Rech; brother-in-law, Max Robinson; sister-in-law, Gladys Murta; and nieces, Diane and Amy Himmelberg.

Survivors cherishing her memory include her children, Dave (Diana) Rech of Ulysses, Dan (Ann) Rech of Ulysses, Deb (Ron) Pelan of Brainard, Diane (Greg) Freese of Lincoln, Douglas (Doreen) Rech of Bee and Dwayne (Sheri) Rech of Seward; 19 grandchildren, Don (Macenzie) Rech, Brenda (Brett) Bohac, Dena Ross, David Rech, Nick (Kelsey) Rech, Elliot (Jaclyn) Rech, Jake Rech and friend Haley Menke, Gavin Rech, Kristal (Matt) Pelan-Hodgson, Tyler (Ashley) Pelan, Laura Freese and friend Dan Dahl, Megan Freese and friend Zach Verkamp, Ethan Freese, Lisa (Joe) Shelden, Troy Rech and fiance, Christy Laughlin, Samantha (John) Raine, John Rech, Nathan Rech and Emilee Rech and friend Brenden Flesner; eight great-grandchildren, Blakelee, Easton, Emmett, Ella, Ryder, Arlo, Simon and Wesley; and siblings, Don “Ducker” (Bonnie) Himmelberg, Coletta Robinson, Vernon (Bonnie) Himmelberg, Orville (Barb) Himmelberg, Rita (Ken) Brott, Robert (Betty) Himmelberg, Vivian (Darrel) Soucie, Howard (Glenda) Himmelberg, John (Donna) Himmelberg and Marie (Rich) Crucitt.

Visitation will be Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Zabka Funeral Home in Seward and from 5 to 7 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ulysses, followed by a rosary service at 7 p.m. at the church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the church, with the Rev. Michael Stec celebrating mass. A graveside service and interment will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Ulysses. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rech family for future designation. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.zabkafuneralhome.com.