Alberta P. (Sunneberg) Carpenter

Alberta Patricia "Gert" (Sunneberg) Carpenter, 90, of Hillcrest Shadow Lake, Papillion, NE, passed away on January 20, 2023.   Alberta was born on February 27, 1932 to Clement and Marie Sunneberg on the farm in Marshall County, Kansas.  Later the family relocated to Pawnee County, Nebraska, a couple of miles north of the previous farm.  Alberta lived there until her marriage.  She graduated from St. Peter and Paul High School, Seneca, Kansas in 1951.

Alberta met her future husband at a skating rink in Humboldt, Nebraska, where he was the floor manager. They married in November of 1951 and went on to have ten children, Val (Diane), Valerie (Jim), Rory (Mary), Carmel (Andy), Suzanne (Jim), Scott (Colleen), Linda (Luther), Kevin (Toni), Alex (Melicca) and Kerry (Julia).  Valjean made a career of the Air Force and the family traveled throughout the United States and Europe but always considered Nebraska as home. They retired to Plattsmouth, Nebraska in 1982. 

Wonderful food came out of Alberta’s kitchen. Not only was Alberta a great cook, she was an exquisite seamstress and an excellent organizer. The latter was by necessity due to the myriad of moves the family made while in the Air Force as well as the raising of ten children. She was passionate about her family, both immediate and extended, and her Catholic faith and her Nebraska Huskers. In her later years, Alberta turned her time and talents to quilting. Alberta enjoyed their many trips across the country to visit fellow retired Air Force friends. Alberta will be remembered as a hardworking, loving mother, a wise counsel, a loyal, unselfish friend and a perpetual giver of herself. 

She was preceded by her husband, Valjean, her parents Clement and Marie, her sisters Esther, Rosemary, Joan and Bernita, her brothers Gerald and Bob. 

Alberta is survived by her ten children and her siblings Bill (Elsie) Sunneberg, Norene (Gene) Lackey, Regis (Jane) Sunneberg, Gerva Sunneberg and Janice (Jerry) Heinen as well as 39 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 27, 2023 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Steinauer, Nebraska with Father Michael Christensen officiating.  Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church.  Visitation on Thursday, January 26, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. at Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska. Interment will be in the St. Bridget Cemetery, rural Axtell, Kansas.  Memorials to family choice for later designation.  Online condolences may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com. Services entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska.

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