Lois Elaine German

Lois Elaine (Hibbler) German of Cozad, passed away Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at Meadowlark Pointe Assisted Living at the age of 91. Lois was born December 22, 1930, on a small farm outside of Ayr, Nebraska to the parents of Rudolph and Ella Hibbler.

Lois spent her childhood milking 13 cows every morning and night and helping raise, clean, and dress chickens to supply Mary Lanning hospital in Hastings.  Electricity and telephone service didn’t arrive on the family farm until after she was out of high school. After graduation from Hastings High School at the age of 17, she began to teach rural school in Adams County.  During this time, she attended Kearney State College where she met Marilyn (Stinehagen) McNeal who encouraged her to move to Dawson County. During this time, she met Rex German at the Rusty Gate Square Dance Club. Over the next 5 years, Rex proposed four times, which she declined. In 1955, Lois traveled to Australia for 6 months in President Eisenhower’s International Farm Youth Exchange program. In Australia she stayed with 19 families, some of which she stayed in touch with her entire life. Upon returning to Cozad, Rex proposed one more time and Lois finally said yes! She had circumnavigated the world and realized Rex was the one! On January 1, 1958, they were married at the Church of Christ in Cozad. To this union four children were born.

Throughout her life, Lois enjoyed her family, gardening, cooking, baking pies, and especially playing Bridge and Pinochle. Rex and Lois lived on a farm four miles east of Cozad where Lois maintained gardens of which the beauty and flavors were enjoyed by many. Lois was well known for her pies, fried chicken, cinnamon rolls, and lasagna, to name a few.  She was well known for her no nonsense plain spoken style.  Even though Lois never finished college, she valued education and was proud that all of her children and grandchildren received college degrees.

Lois was an active member in the Church of Christ, PEO, Cozad Library Board, and the Gideon Auxiliary.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings: Ervin Reiboldt, Leta (Reiboldt) Stromer, Margarette (Reiboldt) Bostock, Wyona (Hibbler) Weiss.

She is survived by her husband, Rex, children: Milo (Sarah) German of Exton, PA, Sid German  (fiancé Susan Baudin) of Hammond, LA, Amy (Tom) Hirn of Fort Collins, CO, Paul (Jane) German of Cozad, NE, grandchildren: Hannah (Kevin) Dutcher, Rachel (James) Snyder, Megan (Jackie) Hanks, Katelynn German, Anna German, Elizabeth Hirn, Laura Hirn, Amanda (Bailey) Stapleman, Katrina (DJ) Maar, and Kyle German, seven great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be Monday, May 23, 2022 at 10:00 am at the Church of Christ on Newell with Pastor David Haynes officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be Sunday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Berryman Funeral Home.

Family requests donations in her name to a memorial for the Wilson Library Art Garden.