Arlene VanWormer

Arlene VanWormer, age 82, of Aurora, died Sunday, February 24, 2008, at Memorial Hospital in Aurora.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, February 27th at the Aurora United Methodist Church. Rev. Richard Karohl will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 P.M. Tuesday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: ARLENE VAN WORMER

Arlene Marian VanWormer, the daughter of John and Mary (Roth) Feuerstein, was born in southern Hamilton County, Nebraska on March 29, 1925 and died in Aurora, Nebraska on February 24, 2008, at the age of 82.

Arlene attended country school and graduated from Stockham High School in 1942.

On March 29, 1945, she was united in marriage to Larry Dickson. Arlene was united in marriage to C.K. "Vanny" VanWormer on October 21, 1950. Following her marriage to Vanny, they operated cafes in Aurora. First there was the Little Owl Diner, then Van’s Steak House and Café and then the SYA Café. Vanny passed away on January 6, 1969 and the café was sold. Arlene then worked at the Jack and Jill Grocery Store for nearly 15 years. She then worked at Dicks Café on the east edge of Aurora. When Dicks Café sold, she worked at Colonial Corners in Aurora until she retired.

Arlene enjoyed the church and sang in the choir for 35 years. She was very active and loved to bowl, doing this until illness forced her to quit. In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s her sons raced a late model stock car. Arlene and her parents never missed a race no matter how far they had to travel. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Many of her nights were spent at baseball fields, football fields or in a gym watching her children and grandchildren, enjoying every minute of it.

Until her illness she resided at Crossroad Courts. She enjoyed the card games and everything associated with that. She spent many of her lunches at the Senior Center and really enjoyed being with many of her friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, Virgil Feuerstein, sister, Dorothy Lentz and brother-in-law, Kenny Lentz

Those left to cherish her memory are her three sons, Clifford "Butch" (Sandi) Van Wormer of Aurora, Daniel (Janet) Van Wormer of Aurora, and Jim (Jan) Van Wormer of Aurora; sister, Judy (Jerry) Carlson of Columbus; grandchildren, Nikki (Tom) Richardson, Shawn (Crystal) VanWormer, Jason (Theresa) VanWormer, Jeremy (Jenilee) VanWormer, Lisa Marie (Tim) Gretch, Lisa K. (Jim) Slavik and Tracy and Lance Fisher; great-grandchildren, Ryah and Brookly Richardson, Darcie and Cadence VanWormer, Jordan, Zachary and Drew VanWormer, Ryan, Kyleigh and Morgan VanWormer, Kelsey and Alan Gretch and Katie and Jake Slavik; and other family members and friends.