Emaleen Marie (Sullwold) Rogers

Emaleen Marie Rogers, 91, of Pawnee City, Nebraska passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at the Pawnee County Hospital.  She was born on August 26, 1929 in rural Hoberg, Missouri to August and Dorcas (Wilks) Sullwold. She was the oldest of three children. She had two younger brothers, Vernon and Henry.  

Em’s father was a hired man for local farmers. The family moved to Nebraska to find work.  Em attended country school at Bratton Union.  The family moved to Kansas and she graduated from Bern, Kansas in 1948. After graduation from high school she went to work for local families when they had babies.

While working for Donald and Luella Rogers, caring for their new son Lewis, she met Donald’s brother Willard.  They fell in love and decided to marry.  On the day they got engaged they attended a dance at the ZCBJ Hall.  The band played “Blue Skirt Waltz” in their honor.  Em and Willard wed on October 14, 1949. They planned on getting married at Friedens Church, rural Bern, Kansas, but discovered their Nebraska blood test was not good in Kansas.  So they back tracked to Nebraska and got married at the Methodist Church in DuBois.  To this union two children were born Robert Wayne and Donna Jean.

 After a day of honeymoon in Lincoln they returned to Pawnee County. They lived with Willard’s parents until Willard purchased a farm 2 miles from his parents. They moved into a farmhouse with no running water and no electricity.  Em was a busy farmwife, who had a big garden and raised chickens.  Em also worked at Williams Laundry, Warnke's, Campbell's Soup and Pawnee Manor and did some babysitting in her home. 

The family were members of the Presbyterian Church and helped with Bible school and funerals at the church.

Em was a gifted seamstress, she made many quilts that were beautiful.  In her later years she enjoyed babysitting two younger neighbor girls, Halleye and Morgan Friedly.  They brought her great joy.  She enjoyed feeding the birds in the winter, especially hummingbirds.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Willard, daughter Donna Rogers, son, Robert and brothers Henry Sullwold and Vernon Sullwold.

Em is survived by grandchildren, Allyssia Rogers, Carla Songer and Shayne Songer, sister-in-law Joann Sullwold and many nieces and nephews. 

Graveside services 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at the Pawnee City Cemetery, Pawnee City, Nebraska.  Officiating Pastor Ken Tubbesing.  Masks are required at the visitation and the Graveside service.  The service will be radio broadcast on FM 88.7 for those attending who choose to stay in their vehicles and also  live-streamed on the Wherry Mortuary/Monument Facebook page. The Link to the livestream will also be available later on Emaleen's webpage. 

Visitation 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska.

Interment at the Pawnee City Cemetery, Pawnee City.  Memorials to family choice. 

Online condolences may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com. 

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