Eilene Marie Thomas

Notes:

Eilene Marie Wehr-Rath, 86, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at her home in Lexington.

She was born on April 20, 1937, in Bennet, Nebraska, to Fred and Agnes (Brejcha) Thomas. Eilene attended public school in Bennet and graduated from Bennet High School with the class of 1954. She married Robert (Bob) Snyder in 1955. To this union, two children were born, David and Theresa (Terri). In 1967, she married Veryl Wehr and welcomed his son, Doug. The three kids were raised as one family. After Veryl's death, Eilene married Hugh Rath in 2007. They spent their latter years of life singing to each other, studying the Bible, and just loving one another!

Eilene spent most of her adult career working for Reach Electronics in Lexington. She worked up the corporate ladder from secretary to eventually becoming CEO. During this time, her biggest accomplishment was applying for and having the company awarded the President's "E" Award for Exports from the US Government. She got to dine at the White House with then President Ronald Reagan. After Reach closed their doors, she moved on to work for Veetronix, a subsidiary of Reach. She would tell her kids, "I'm just a little ole' kid from a little ole' town with no college education. I just can't believe the opportunities I've had in my life!" She retired early when her husband, Veryl, became ill and needed around-the-clock care.

Eilene loved spending time with her family, cooking, boating, being at the lake, and being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed needlework and doing plastic canvas. She gave many of the things she made away. In her younger years, you would find her sunbathing or boating at Johnson Lake, but as she aged, she liked watching Andy Griffith or Looney Tunes on tv, relaxing outside, and taking naps! She was a member of the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Kearney.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Doug Wehr of Kearney, David (Linda Kingham) Snyder of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Theresa (Terri) Casper of Lexington; step-children, Steve (Linda) Rath of Elwood, Nebraska and Mike (Amanda) Rath of Whitney, Nebraska; sister, Phyllis (Ralph) Steward of Bennet, Nebraska; grandchildren, Jason (Tiffany) Wehr, Christopher (Claudia) Wehr, Daniel (Felicia) Snyder, Alyssa (Ryan) Benson, Julie (Sean) Urban, Mary Beth (Clint) Stoll, Curt Casper, Becki (Tom) Hoffman, Eric Casper and Blake (Courtney Patterson) Casper; fifteen great-grandchildren with two more on the way, special friend Sue Berndt who cared for her so lovingly the last several years, as well as many extended family and friends.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her ex-husband Robert (Bob) Snyder, husband, Veryl Wehr, and husband, Hugh Rath; brothers, John Thomas and Bill Thomas; sister, Vivian Thomas, son-in-law Craig Casper, stepchildren, Debra Smith, Ron Rath, and Beverly Dyke.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington with Pastor John Strackbein, officiating. The service will be live-streamed via the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home Facebook page.

Inurnment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington, with refreshments following at Grace Lutheran Church in Lexington.

Memorials are kindly suggested to the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department. A very special thank you to the LVFD for helping Eilene so many times.510
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, from Reynolds Love Funeral Home)

Fred married Agnes Brejcha before 1937. Agnes (daughter of John Brejcha and Mary Vejraska) was born on 26 Jan 1908 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died in Jun 1978 in Bennet, Lancaster County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The son of Thomas Brejcha and Josephine Stepanek. (Milligan, p 210).

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Federal Census
Nebraska, Fillmore County, Franklin Twp, Ohiowa Village
Enumerated 14 Feb 1920
SD 4 ED 28 Sheet 8A
157-157
Brejcha, John Head M W 34 M Neb Bohemia/Bohemian Bohemia Laborer Farm
Brejcha, Mary Wf F W 34 M Neb Bohemia/Bohemian Bohemia
Brejcha, Agnes Dtr m W 12 S Neb Neb Neb
Brejcha, Libby Dtr F W 8 S Mo Neb Neb
Brejcha, Evelyn Dtr F W 5 S Neb Neb Neb
Brejcha, Ruddy Son M W 3 S Neb Neb Neb
Brehcha, Jos. Son M W 9 mos S Neb Neb Neb

John married Mary Vejraska on 15 Jan 1907 in Fillmore County, Nebraska. Mary (daughter of Josef Vejraska and Marie Kucera) was born on 8 Apr 1885 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 17 Nov 1957 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary attended rural school District #67 and spent her younger years helping her parents with their farm and family. She was a devoted mother, a person of great patience and understanding, an ardent lover of nature and music and she derived a great deal of pleasure from her singing, as she had a beautiful voice. A terrific cook and baker and her kolaces, rolls and apple streudel were out of this world. For entertainment of people, she used to tell their fortunes with a deck of cards, and much of what she told people did come true. Mary was widowed at the age of 36, with five children under the age of 13, and did all kinds of odd jobs to hold her family together. For several years she and her youngest son, Joe, lived in the home of an employer, Louis and Alice Koca. Later she went into practical nursing, caring for many elderly people in their own homes, including Mr. Bosak of Crete, The Marsh's of Tobias, Frank Krupicka of Tobias, and Jan Luzum of Milligan. (Milligan, p 210)

Notes:

Married:
Mary and John were united in marriage in a double wedding ceremony with her sister, Anna Vejraska and Vaclav Capek at her parents home southwest of Milligan. After their marriage, they farmed near Milligan, later moving to Lockwood, Missouri for a few years, and then back to Nebraska, near Western. There they gave up farming and moved to Tobias and later Ohiowa, where John Brejcha died at the age of 36 years.

Notes:

A mason and brickmaker. He was Catholic and led prayer meetings inthe first Catholic Church. His daughter, Anna, spoke proudly of her father helping to build Milligan. He worked for 25 cents a day. For lunch he had a slice of rye bread he brought from home. (Milligan, p 243).

(Research):

Census Information:

1900 Census
Nebraska, Fillmore County, Glengary Township
Enumerated 13 Jun 1900 by Anton E. Hrnek
SD 4, ED 26 Sheet 7B
Vigraska, Joseph Hd W M Mar 1850 m 23 Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia 1884 16 Own Farm
Vigraska, Mary Wf W F Feb 1856 44 m 23 6/5 Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia 1884 16
Vigraska, Anna Dtr W F Jan 1879 21 S Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia 1884 16 Housework
Vigraska, Fanny Dtr W F Oct 1881 18 S Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia Housework
Vigraska, Mary Dtr W F Apr 1865 15 S Nebraska Bohemia Bohemia At School
Vigraska, Agnes Dtr W F Nov 1888 12 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia At School
Vigraska, Rosie Dtr W F Jun 1893 6 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia
Vigraska, John Father W M Feb 1821 79 W Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia 1880 20 Na Stone Mason

Josef married Marie Kucera on 1 May 1877 in Bohemia. Marie was born in Feb 1856 in Bohemia; died on 11 Jan 1932 in Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]