Our wonderful, loving mother, "sister", spiritual leader/mentor, prayer minister, friend, LuVerne "Vernie" J. Marquette, 88, of Lincoln, entered eternity with Jesus our Saviour, on Jan 4, 2013. She was born at home near Burr, NE on June 15, 1924 to Edward and Anna (Neeman) Meyer. She was the youngest of 5 children and grew up as a farmer's daughter working together with her family as the great depression hit with drought, grasshoppers, and the loss of her father's farm by Douglas, NE. She knew how to "run" a household by the time she was 10. At 13, in order to go to high school, Vernie had to leave her home, move to town and work for families, serving their needs. She met her tall, dark, handsome love when she was a teen.
Richard and Vernie married on her 17th birthday in1941 after she graduated from Sterling High School with Normal Training to be a teacher. Richard was a bee keeper from Minnesota so their first seven years of marriage were spent migrating bees to Texas, Florida, and Illinois following the honey harvest. They settled on a farm near Douglas in 1947, raised their 4 children, and were local honey producers for over 50 years. During that time, Vernie shared her faith with her family and taught Adult Sunday School every Sunday for 10 years at the American Lutheran Church in Adams, and then she taught newly confirmed students to be Sunday School Teachers at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sterling for 14 years. Besides her volunteering at the church and working the bees, she maintained a huge vegetable and flower garden, enjoyed the Douglas Quilting Club, and sang along as Richard played and performed with local musicians at square dances, high school proms, bandstands, and other events.
When Richard and Vernie moved to Lincoln in 1976, they opened their home to the Hippie Generation for Bible Studies every Saturday night leading people to Christ and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit through their personal testimonies. They were also very active with Full Gospel Businessmen. Then, Vernie answered the need for women's ministries. She and three other women organized an Aglow chapter in Lincoln. In the mid 80's, they started many other chapters throughout Nebraska providing workshops, Bible Studies, retreats, speakers, and numerous spiritual growth opportunities for women who were hurting. She and her husband Richard also established several Gospel music bands which ministered in nursing homes, prisons, the city mission, and for various spiritual retreats. Being a member of Christ's Place, she lead the Prayer Chain for many years and opened a prayer ministry in her home which met weekly for 30+ years. Then, for the past three years, she expanded her ministry to others as a trained Stephen Minister. Her compassion, empathy, love, kindness, and joy of the Lord was shared wherever she was---in her neighborhood, with her children, grandchildren, great's and with all of her friends and caregivers. Everyone loved her hugs and affirmations.
Vernie will be dearly missed by her son Richard Jr. "Jerry" & Betty Marquette of Lecanto, FL, daughter Roxanne & Arden Dorn of San Antonio, TX, son Raymond & Shirley Marquette of Winchester, CA, daughter Ronda & Bobby Martz of Fayetteville, NC, 13 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren,1 great-great-grandson, her sister-in-laws and brothers-in-laws, nieces and nephews, relatives, neighbors, hundreds of friends and acquaintances. Her husband Richard, infant son Marlyn, parents, brothers Edward, Ralph, and Irvin Meyer, and sister Goldie Brugman welcome her into Heaven. Praise the Lord.
A Celebration of her life with be at 2:00 PM, Jan. 8, 2013, at Christ's Place Church, Lincoln and her burial will be in Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday from noon-8 PM with family present from 5-8PM to greet friends and relatives at Lincoln Memorial. In lieu of flowers, donations in Vernie's memory are suggested to support the Stephen Ministry at Christ's Place or to its mission fund. Condolences www.lincolnfh.com