Bertha E. Welsch

Bertha E. Welsch, 96, formerly of Lincoln, died Saturday, March 27, 2010, at the Howard County Medical Center in St.Paul, NE. Her son Roger and daughter-in-law Linda were at her bedside. She is survived by Roger and Linda Welsch of Dannebrog; one brother and sister-in-law, John and Frieda Flack of Lincoln; four grandchildren, Chris Welsch of St. Paul, MN, Joyce Welsch of Lincoln, Jennifer Welsch of Lincoln, Antonia Welsch of Minneapolis, a special niece, Karen Adamsheck of Lincoln., three great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, Bertha was preceded in death by her sister, O’Linda Kaltenberger; and brother, Richard Kehler. Mrs. Welsch chose to be cremated. A private family memorial will be held later this spring. Memorials are suggested to the Sunken Gardens Foundation in Lincoln, or the St. Paul Public Library in St. Paul, NE. Bertha was born Feb. 24, 1914 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Johann Flach (John Flack) and Mary Elizabeth (Marie) Weigandt. She and her siblings were orphaned at a young age and the children were sent to live with various relatives. On September 14, 1933, at the age of 19, Bertha was united in marriage to Christian Welsch. They devoted their lives to each other, and making a home in Lincoln for their only child, Roger, born Nov. 6, 1936. Bertha worked outside the home for many years, but her greatest happiness was in being in her own home and creating the family life she missed in her childhood. She was an avid reader, a wonderful cook, and a spotless German-Russian housekeeper. Bertha worked hard, laughed easily, worried much and tended her flowers and gardens each year. She loved her grandchildren and was seen often pulling the first three little ones, Chris, Joyce and Jen, in their wagon. In l983, last grandchild Antonia and first great-grandchild Jacinda were born within days of each other. When husband Chris passed away in September, 2000 Bertha was heartbroken to lose her life’s mate. A favorite German poem by Goethe was read at Chris’s funeral: Wanderer’s Night Song Above the mountains there is peace. In the treetops we hear barely a breath. The small birds are silent in the woods. Wait . . . . soon you too will rest..! Now, dear Bertha, dear mother, ..you too,..rest..