Elaine Kay Albright was born Feb. 3, 1949, in Hays, Kansas, to Eugene and Ruby (Janke) Wetzel. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 5, 2025, in Seward.
Elaine attended school in McCracken, Kansas, graduating in 1967. She then went onto college at Fort Hays State University, where she graduated with her bachelor’s in nursing in 1971. She worked as a nurse in Hays after graduation. At her brother, Bill’s, wedding in 1973, she met Merle Albright, the brother of the bride. They hit it off and started a long-distance relationship. Elaine and Merle were married Jan. 10, 1976, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Hays. They then moved to Merle’s family farm just north of Colby, Kansas, and settled into life together. They welcomed two children, Brian in 1977 and Maria in 1980.
Elaine held various nursing jobs over the years in Colby, starting at St. Thomas Hospital, then she moved onto the Thomas County Health Department in the 1980s. She then worked for Citizen’s Medical Center as a home health care nurse for most of the 1990s before taking a job as a staff nurse at Family Center for Health Care. After moving to Manhattan, Kansas, in 2003, she worked for Homecare & Hospice, providing at-home, end-of-life care for many patients. Elaine loved being a nurse and provided high quality nursing care to innumerable patients over her 46-year nursing career before retiring in 2017. That same year, Elaine and Merle moved to Seward to be closer to family and live out their retirement years.
Elaine enjoyed many activities, including baking, scrapbooking, crossword puzzles and spending time with family. She was active in her churches, Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Manhattan and St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. Elaine loved being a pet parent to many cats over the years and a dog named Leo, adopted in 2020.
Most of all, Elaine loved being a mother and a grandmother, and she will most be remembered for having a kind, gentle soul who was always willing to help where she could and always having a positive attitude. She will be missed dearly by all who knew her.
Elaine is survived by her son, Brian (KaiPing) Albright; daughter, Maria Albright; grandchildren, Martin and Kayla Albright; brothers, Bill (Melanie) Wetzel and David (Teresa) Wetzel; sister-in-law, Janice Kinsley; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Merle; her parents, Eugene and Ruby Wetzel; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Thomas, Ben, Carol and Glenda Albright.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 12, from 3 – 8 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home with a gathering of family and friends from 6:30 – 8 p.m. The funeral service is Friday, June 13, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward with committal at the Seward Cemetery. Nursing honors will be provided by the Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard. Memorial contributions are suggested to York Adopt-a-pet.
Arrangements by Volzke Funeral Home.
