Mary Ellen Husak

Mary Ellen (Drews) Husak was born July 26, 1929 on the family farm south and east of Yutan, Nebraska to Williams and Elsie (Eggers) Drews. Her parents were farmers, and at the time of her birth, the neighbors were over helping her dad with threshing the wheat and oats. Her grandmother, Mary (Jurgensen) Eggers, made the meal for the area farmers. Mary Ellen attended District 8 country school. Every day, she would walk to school with her brothers: Clarence, Wayne, Lester, Ervin, and Delmar. After her eighth grade graduation, she stayed home and worked on the family farm. Mary Ellen met Joe Husak at a dance in Weston, Nebraska. They fell in love and were married in the St. John’s Lutheran Church parsonage in Yutan on January 5, 1949, and to this union, three children were born: Judy, Richard, and Carol. The family lived in Omaha for a time before settling in Yutan in 1956. They celebrated their 60th anniversary prior to Joe’s death in 2009. Mary Ellen was a stay at home Mom until everyone was in school. She worked for a while as a cook at the Yutan Public School, and then went to work at Boys Town, where she stayed until her retirement. She was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Yutan, being baptized, confirmed, and married there. She taught Sunday School while her kids were growing up, and was active for many years in the Ladies Circle group, and serving funeral lunches. When the church had their annual auction to raise money, Mary Ellen donated her embroidery work, baked goods, and dill pickles. Mary Ellen enjoyed working word puzzles, and stayed busy with her garden and baking in her kitchen. She was constantly tending to her flowers, or could be found canning and freezing vegetables. She enjoyed baking cookies for the church bazaar, and was famous for her almond bark covered Ritz peanut butter cookies. Mary Ellen was also an avid fisherman, and enjoyed fishing trips to North Platte, Yankton, and Minnesota. She always looked forward to visits from her son, Richard and his wife, Kim, when they could spend time together and go fishing. Mary Ellen learned to do embroidery from her mother, Elsie. She created many beautiful pieces through the years. These pieces included quilts for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her faith and family were most important to her. Joe and Mary Ellen’s lives revolved around their kids, grandkids, and in recent years, their great grandkids. Mary Ellen died Sunday, April 13, 2014 at the Nye Legacy Retirement Community in Fremont, NE at the age of 84 years, 8 months, 18 days. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe, parents William & Elsie Drews, and brothers: Clarence, Wayne, Lester, Ervin, and Delmar. Mary Ellen is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Richard & Kim of Crofton, MD, daughters and sons-in-law: Judy & Roger Anderson of Omaha, Carol & Terry Widman of Yutan, grandchildren: Sara (Joe) Aliano, Steve (Jackie) Anderson, Michael (Stacie) Anderson, William (Kristen) Widman, Mary (Sam) Backes, Amy (Carlos) Godinez, great grandchildren: Jadyn and Kohl Anderson, Owen and Ethan Anderson, Aidan, Ashton and Brinley Backes, Wyatt and Ellianna Widman, and Eli Godinez. Mary Ellen Husak, age 84, of Yutan, died 4-13-14 in Fremont, NE. Preceded in death by husband Joe, parents William & Elsie Drews, and brothers: Clarence, Wayne, Lester, Ervin, and Delmar. Survived by son and daughter-in-law Richard & Kim of Crofton, MD, daughters and sons-in-law: Judy & Roger Anderson of Omaha, Carol & Terry Widman of Yutan, grandchildren: Sara (Joe) Aliano, Steve (Jackie) Anderson, Michael (Stacie) Anderson, William (Kristen) Widman, Mary (Sam) Backes, Amy (Carlos) Godinez, great grandchildren: Jadyn and Kohl Anderson, Owen and Ethan Anderson, Aidan, Ashton and Brinley Backes, Wyatt and Ellianna Widman, and Eli Godinez. Funeral service 10:30 AM Saturday, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Yutan, NE. Interment Hollst Lawn Cemetery. Visitation Noon to 8 PM Friday with family receiving friends from 6-8 PM at the funeral home in Yutan. Memorials to the church or the Yutan Fire & Rescue Squad.

Mary Ellen Husak

July 26, 1929 - April 13, 2014