Grace Marie Dierking, the daughter of Ruth R. (Weskamp) and Clarence W. Thomas, was born December 25, 1932 at Danbury, Nebraska. She departed this life on April 8, 2022 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska at the age of 89 years, 3 months and 13 days.
Grace received her formal education attending the Spring Creek rural school district #1 south of Smith Center, Kansas and then graduated from the Naponee High School with the class of 1951. On September 16, 1951, she was united in marriage with Wayne Dale Dierking at Phillipsburg, Kansas. This union was blessed with two children, Cheryl Marie and Jerry Dale.
Continuing her education, Grace received her Food Service Manager Certificate in 1977, at Lincoln, Nebraska. She was employed for fourteen years as a cook with the Republican City Public Schools and then worked as a waitress at the Naponee Cafe and the Republican City Cafe. Grace moved to Red Cloud in 1985, and started her own business “Gracie’s Fixin and Cleanin” service. Over the following years she developed many cherished and lasting relationships with her customers. She not only excelled at her cleaning business but was additionally very proficient at hanging wall paper.
Grace was a dedicated member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witness in Red Cloud. In her leisure time she enjoyed bird watching, growing her flowers and working around her home. She loved pontoon boat rides at Harlan County Lake and attending their numerous family reunions. She will be lovingly remembered for her quick sense of humor, loving to tease, having a good laugh with family and friends and joking with them all. Her personality was pervaded by her kindness and willingness to help those around her.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Wayne, on March 24, 1975; her parents; a sister, Bonnie Keeten and brothers, Cecil, LeRoy and Ernest Thomas.
Left to treasure her memory are her son, Jerry Dierking and wife, Doris, of Franklin, Nebraska; daughter, Cheryl Robinson and husband, Kevin, of Wilcox, Nebraska; grandchildren: Michael Jelken, Sean Robinson, Brittany Rumbeck and husband, Brent, Brooke Robinson, Neilie Fritz and husband Gene, Ashley Dierking and Jill Morril and husband, Jay. Also surviving are twelve great grandchildren; a brother, Seth Thomas and wife, Martina of Naponee, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Jan Thomas of Red Cloud; other relatives and her many friends.
Memorial services were Saturday, 10:30 am, April 16, 2022, at the Williams Funeral Home in Red Cloud with Bob Henning officiating. Interment was at the Naponee Cemetery.
Williams Funeral Home
Red Cloud, Nebraska
Phone 402-746-2500
williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com
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