| Wilmetta “Willie” Jean Powell |

Wilmetta “Willie” Jean Powell, 93, of Grand Island, formerly of St. Paul, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Good Samaritan Society Skilled Care shortly after a visit from a group of family members.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 20th from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home, St. Paul. Services will be held on Saturday, March 21st at 1:00 p.m. at Jacobsen-Greenway- Dietz Funeral Home, followed by graveside services at Elmwood Cemetery and a luncheon at Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home.

Willie was born on February 16, 1933, in Burchard, the third of four children of Elmer and Elsie (Schuetz) Siske. She grew up on the family farm near Burchard Lake and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1950. On September 1, 1950, she married Burgess Eugene Powell, Sr., at Salem United Church of Christ near Burchard.

The young family lived in twenty-two towns across three states while Burgess worked as a bridge crew foreman before settling permanently in St. Paul in 1963, where they built their home and raised their three children. Willie worked at the St. Paul Bakery, the St. Paul Public Schools cafeteria, and the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant in Grand Island. She volunteered for many years at the bloodmobile and helped with funeral lunches at the church. She enjoyed coffee with friends at the Sweet Shoppe, Bingo at the senior center, reading, and word search puzzles.

In November 2022, she moved to Brookefield Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation in St. Paul, and in October 2024 to Crane Meadows Assisted Living in Grand Island.

Willie was preceded in death by her husband, Burgess; her brothers, Loren (Viannah) Siske and Glenn (Iris) Siske; her sister, Delores (Bill) Seeman; and her grandson, Nathan Kassebaum.

Willie is survived by her three children and spouses, Deb (Tom) Grim of Grand Island, Kathy (Roger) Kassebaum of Omaha, and Burgess Jr. (Ginger) Powell of Norfolk; five grandchildren: Katie (Kyle) Godbout, Tanner (Sarah) Powell, and Kolton Powell of Omaha, Kim (Brian) Calkins of Phillips, and Mike (Kelly) Grim of Grand Island; eleven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Brookefield Park, or Crane Meadows.

The Phonograph-Herald | March 18, 2026