Lowene Evelyn Werkmeister

Lowene Evelyn Werkmeister met her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 8 in Harlingen, Texas. She was born May 30th, 1936, in Leigh, Nebraska to Rudolph (Rudy) and Lydia (Franzen) Korte. She was baptized on June 14, 1936, at Zion Lutheran Church, Leigh, and confirmed her faith on April 2, 1950, also at Zion Lutheran Church. She attended Zion Lutheran Elementary School and Leigh High School where she graduated in 1954. She attended Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska, and taught at St. Peter Lutheran School in Deshler, Nebraska, and St. Paul Lutheran School in West Point, Nebraska.

On November 28, 1959, Lowene was united in marriage to Henry O. Werkmeister at Zion Lutheran Church in Leigh. Lowene and Henry lived on a farm near Madison, Nebraska, for the first four years of their marriage. In 1964, they moved to a farm north of Leigh where they lived and worked for the next 44 years. After their youngest child left for college, Lowene took great pride in learning to drive the tractors and actively helping with field work and harvest on the farm.

Lowene was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Leigh where she taught Sunday School for 25 years, taught Vacation Bible School, was a youth group leader, choir member, and member of the Ladies Circle. Lowene also held offices in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) at local, zone, and district levels. When Lowene and Henry moved to Harlingen and became members of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lowene remained active by leading Bible Studies, joining the Ladies Aid, participating in LWML, and volunteering at St. Paul Academy.

Lowene loved to sing! In addition to the church choir, she was a charter member of the Keynoters – a women’s singing group that became a local fixture as they performed for many years in Leigh and around northeast Nebraska. She was also a long-time member of the Dirt Daubers Garden Club of Madison, Nebraska. Throughout her life, Lowene was an avid reader and currently belonged to two book clubs.

Lowene and Henry retired in 1997 and bought a motorhome. This was the beginning of a whole new chapter in life as they traveled for several months each year, spending many of their winters at Tropic Winds RV Resort in Harlingen. In 2008, they sold the farm and became “full-timers” for five years. They became Harlingen residents with the purchase of a home in 2013.

Lowene and Henry learned to square dance after retirement and spent many happy hours on the dance floor and elsewhere with their square-dancing friends. They enjoyed the freedom of the open road and traveled extensively in the states. They especially loved the beauty of the mountains and the adventure of “Jeeping” the backcountry trails with family and friends.

Lowene is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Henry O. Werkmeister, their three children, Mark (Joanne) Werkmeister of Santa Fe, NM, Julie (Curtis) Walther of Harlingen, TX, and Jim (Nicole) Werkmeister of Albuquerque, NM; by her five grandchildren Jennifer (Courtney) Werkmeister of Cottonwood Heights, UT, Amy (Adam) Peden, of Frisco, TX, Chase (Marcella) Walther of Kingsville, TX, Sam Werkmeister and Max Werkmeister of Albuquerque, NM; and three great-grandchildren, Ryleigh and Louella Peden, and Sage Walther. She is also survived by her sister Karen (Ronald) Wells of Mechanicsville, VA, and sisters-in-law Cheryl Korte of Dysart, IA, and Joan Korte of Fort Walton Beach, FL.

Lowene was proceeded in death by her parents Rudy and Lydia Korte, brother Ladean Korte and wife Miriam, brother Merwyn Korte, sister Marilyn Korte, brother Leland Korte, brother Roland Korte, and daughter-in-law Debra Werkmeister.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Compassion International, Bridge of Hope African Ministry, or St. Paul Lutheran Church, Harlingen.