| Russel H. Lemburg |
Russel H. Lemburg, age 96, of rural Boelus, died Friday, August 16, 2024 at The Heritage at Sagewood in Grand Island.
Funeral services were held at Christ Lutheran Church in Cairo on Thursday, August 22nd, with Reverend Brian Wright officiating.
Musical selections included “He Washed My Eyes With Tears;” “On My Father’s Side,” sung by Matt and Liz Dibbern; and “I’m But a Stranger Here.”
Pallbearers included Adam Dibbern, Matt Dibbern, Tyler Lemburg, Dixon Powers, Josh Floth, and Andrea Floth.
Honorary pallbearers included Dan Dibbern, Jon Sazama, and Sam Dibbern.
Burial was in the Loup Fork Cemetery, following the luncheon at the church.
Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home of St. Paul was entrusted with funeral arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Christ Lutheran Church in Cairo or Heartland Lutheran High School in Grand Island.
Russel was born June 22, 1928 at the family farm near Boelus to Fred and Alma (Ruthstrom) Lemburg. He was baptized at Dry Creek Lutheran Church near Boelus and confirmed his faith in 1958. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Cairo. Russel attended District No. 74, Boelus High School, and received his GED at age of sixty-one in 1989, along with his grandson, Adam Dibbern.
Russel was married to Charlene Keldsen on September 17, 1950 at the Elba United Methodist Church. They moved to Nysted in 1952, with Russel working on the family farm and American Crystal Sugar Company during the offseason. In 1981, they moved to the family farm after building a new house. Russel leveled land for fifty-plus years along with his friend Otto Faaborg and continued farming. He also engaged in television repair and disc rolling. During his retirement years, Russel and Charlene spent countless hours entertaining their friends with country and gospel music at senior citizen centers, retirement homes, churches, and many gatherings, including the St. Michael Country Music Jamboree.
Russel also served his community by being a member of the Loup Basin Reclamation District for thirty-four years, the Nysted and Scandinavian Insurance Board, and the Farwell Irrigation Board, through which he was instrumental in getting the Sherman Dam purchased from the government. He enjoyed spending time with his family, motorcycling with his brothers in their younger years, farming and land leveling, fishing, singing country gospel music, traveling with friends, and winning “several” card games. He enjoyed sharing stories of his daily winnings with his family.
Russel is survived by his wife of seventy-three years, Charlene; daughter, Vickie Lemburg of Cairo; son, Timothy (Peggy) Lemburg of Dannebrog; grandchildren, Adam (Tina) Dibbern of Grand Island, Matthew (Liz) Dibbern of Lincoln, Daniel Dibbern of Cairo, Samuel Dibbern of Cairo, Tyler (Abby) Lemburg of Lincoln, and Andrea (Josh) Floth of Grand Island; nine great-grandchildren; and thirteen great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and nine siblings, Albert (Mayme) Lemburg, Henry (Mollie) Lemburg (and later companion Dea Smith), Charley (Phyllis) Lemburg, Mabel (Wayne) Jorgensen, Bessie (John) Dobry, Ada (Dennis) Ashby, Roger (Yvonne) Lemburg, Roland (Joan) Lemburg, and Doris (Don) Obermiller. What a reunion he is having in heaven!
The Phonograph-Herald | August 28, 2024