Dolores C. Oelkers

Dolores Corrin Oelkers left her earthly home on January 10, 2024, at the age of 93, in Elwood, Nebraska. She spent her entire life in the Elwood and Eustis area, whether it was at her birthplace, on the farm, at her home in Elwood, or in the Elwood Care Home & Assisted Living where she took her last breath and joined Jesus and her husband in her new heavenly home.

Dolores was born at her home in Frontier County, Nebraska, to Cornelius and Ida (nee Schutz) Pfeiffer on January 16, 1930, and was the eldest of 10 children. She was baptized at the Salem Lutheran Church in Frontier County on February 9, 1930. She attended Salem Parochial School through the 8^th grade where she met her soulmate, Art. She attended Elwood High School and graduated with the Class of 1948.  She celebrated her 75^th Class Reunion this past summer at Elwood Public Schools and was the only one still living in her class. She married Arthur Edward Oelkers on December 25, 1949, at Salem Lutheran Church.  To this union, four children were born: Charlene Kay, Jacklin Ann, Patricia Lynn, and Kent Douglas. Dolores celebrated 63 anniversaries with Art until he passed away on November 14, 2013.

Dolores enjoyed all her roles as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, Christian woman, and friend. She felt these were the most important ones in her life and gave her whole heart in fulfilling these roles. Other responsibilities she held throughout her life included as a nurse's aide at the Brewster Hospital in Holdrege, a schoolteacher at District 53 in Frontier Country, a farmer’s wife, a substitute teacher after her children were in school, a house painter, a secretary at Art’s Building and Supply (a business she started with Art), and as a postal clerk at the Elwood Post Office for 27 years. In the Fall of 2009, she entered the Elwood Assisted Living as a resident when Art entered the care home there and she continued to take care of him until his passing. The Elwood Care Home continued to be her home until her passing.

Dolores loved to cook for her family, entertain friends and family, and travel around the world with Art, family, and friends. She taught her children and grandchildren that family was forever, for always, and no matter what. However, her most important love was for her Lord and Savior, and she was her most content when her family members were baptized and when they attended church with her. She was a member of Salem Lutheran Church until moving to Elwood when she joined Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. She continued as a member of Our Redeemer until her death.

Dolores is survived by children, Charlene (Charles) Tilson of Elwood, Jacklin (Douglas) Hanson of Hickman, NE, Patricia (Douglas) Brown of Oberlin, KS, and Kent (Sara) Oelkers of Omaha; her grandchildren, Ryan Wolf of Omaha, Corrin (Andy) Weekly of Hickman, Shane (Laura) Tilson of Elwood, Ashley (Don) Mulvey of Cheyenne, WY, Kimberly (Mike) Fredenburg of Hickman, NE, Matthew (Justine) Tilson of Market Harborough, England, McKenna (Nick) Ferderer of Bellambi, Australia, and Skyler Brown of Oberlin, KS; great-grandchildren, Haylee & Landon Wolf, Emma, Lawson & Maddox Weekly, Gavin, Karter & Crew Tilson, Logan Mulvey, Kaden, Greely & Elle Fredenburg, Elsie & Jonah Tilson; brothers, Dale Pfeiffer & Lloyd Pfeiffer; sisters, Ardella Brand, Elaine Farr, and Dorthea Niemeier. She is also survived by step-grandchildren, Tanner (Jamie) Fitzke, Sadie (Allen) Goodman and Travis Fitzke, all of Pierre, SD; step-great grandchildren, Lincoln, Tenley, & Sutton Fitzke, and Piper, Emmett, & Cameron Goodman, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her parents-in-law, Ernst & Bertha Oelkers; twin newborn sisters; brothers, Lyle Pfeiffer & Alvin Pfeiffer; sister-in-law, Lois Pfeiffer, Bonnie Pfeiffer, Isabelle Pfeiffer, Erma Pfeiffer, & Evelyn Naprstek; brothers-in-law, Floyd Farr, Duane Brand, & Edward Naprstek; nieces, Cristy Niemeier, Shelli & Natalie Farr, & Janice Sunquist; and nephew, Dwight Pfeiffer.

Memorials are suggested to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Elwood Care Center or Elwood Area Foundation. Services will be held Tuesday, January 16, 2024, which would have been Dolores’s 94^th birthday, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Aaron Witt officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. at Elwood Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be Monday, January 15, 2024 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.