Arlene Huwaldt

Arlene Roberta Huwaldt passed away September 12, 2017 at Skyview in Bridgeport, Nebraska, where she had been in residence since May 2015.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at the Holechek Funeral Home in Oshkosh with Brenda Tophoj, PMA officiating. Burial will follow in the Ash Hollow Cemetery near Lewellen.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services.

Memorials are suggested to the Skyview at Bridgeport for improvements to the beauty shop and the continuation of the great beauty services provided to present and future residents.

Holechek Funeral Home in Oshkosh is serving the Huwaldt family.

Arlene was born in Lewellen, Nebraska to her parents Emil and Jeanette Rieck on December 16, 1917. She grew up on the family farm in the company of her brothers and sisters, as the youngest of seven children. Her nickname was “Neenie”. Emil and Jenny were respected, much-loved members of that small community. Arlene learned to start the family car with a hand crank and drive her Mother to town when she was 13. Her best friend was Pauline Crosby. Life was simple and abundant with family, friends and all the seasons of rural life. Arlene learned about hard work, resilience and to face life with unyielding optimism.

In the Summer of 1935 after graduation from Lewellen Rural High School, Arlene traveled to California with her parents and brother Chet. This coming-of-age journey impacted Arlene, offering the opportunity to witness the Golden Gate Bridge under construction, in the light from the worker’s campfires. Arlene would forever enjoy changing scenery and new faces.

The following year in early Spring on March 30, 1936, Arlene married James E. Huwaldt of Lisco, NE. He was charming, a little wild and very ambitious. Jim and Arlene contributed to the community through the ownership of small businesses. They owned the Blue Creek Dairy, The Trail Motel Lodge aka The Shady Rest and a ranch in Wheatland, WY. Arlene provided support and encouragement for Jim’s life-long passion to raise, show and race the finest Quarter Horses of the era.

Jim and Arlene were blessed with three daughters Sandra, Marcia and Candice and enjoyed a 53-year marriage. They were members of the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Oshkosh, NE. After Jim’s passing in 1989, Arlene started an estate sales business at the age of 70. Retirement was never a consideration. Her business became the Now & Then antiques and collectibles shop in Scottsbluff, NE. Her business card simply stated, “Let me help you”. Jan Hubbard was her dear friend and partner until the business sold in the early 2000s.

Arlene was active and engaged throughout her nineties, offering wisdom and love to a growing, multi-generational family. Arlene is survived by her daughter Sandy (Jim) McGinley, Candice Southwick (David Land), grandchildren Tim (Debbie) McGinley, Scott Koeppen, Jennifer McGinley, Jill McGinley, Brad (Chris) Koeppen, Matthew McGinley, Mitchum (Scarlett) Grace, Monte (Brandy) Grace and 18 great/great, great grandchildren.

Preceding Arlene in death are her parents Emil and Jeanette Rieck, brothers Don (Kathryn) Rieck, Chester (Vera) Rieck, Irvin Rieck, sisters Dorothy (Paul) Brown, Edna (Reid) Brassfield, Irma Rieck, granddaughter Melissa McGinley, grandson Casey Grace and cherished daughter and son-in-law Marcia and Larry Koeppen.

The prevailing spirit of this lovely woman impacted everyone who knew her and sets a standard for those who follow. Arlene was an accomplished cook, a late-in-life artist and possessed a knack for making things grow. She had it all with dignity and grace during a time when working wives and Mothers were less common.