Coleen DeEtte Ingerle

Coleen DeEtte Ingerle, 83, of Kearney, formerly of Elba, died Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, Nebraska.

Funeral services will be Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Peters Funeral Home in St. Paul, Nebraska, at 10:30 am. Rev. Serene Samuel will officiate. Inurnment will take place in Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska.

Memorials are suggested to Elba United Methodist Church.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Coleen was born to Clarence and Helen (Bishop) Piper on July 11, 1942, in Hastings, Nebraska. She grew up in McCook, Paxton, and North Platte, before graduating with the North Platte High School Class of 1960. Following graduation, she attended Kearney State Teachers College in Kearney, graduating in 1964 with a double bachelor’s degree in Math and English.

It was at Kearney State where Coleen met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Ingerle, over a crossword puzzle.

The couple united in marriage on October 25, 1963, in Minden, Nebraska. The couple first lived in Grand Island, while Coleen completed her student teaching at Barr Junior High. Following her graduation, the couple moved to Wallace, Nebraska, where she had her first teaching job. In 1970, the couple moved to Sutherland, Nebraska, where they built their own home together and Coleen taught.

Once again, in 1979, the family moved to Elba, Nebraska, and built their home together next to Dick’s family business, Tri-County Sand and Gravel.

Coleen taught at Elba Public Schools until her retirement in 1986. She followed her career as an educator as the Assistant Postmaster at the Elba Post Office until 1991, as well as serving as the president of Tri-County Sand & Gravel. In the mid-’90s, Coleen and Dick sold their share of the business to Dick’s brother and sister-in-law, Allen and Edna Ingerle.

Coleen was the first woman to serve on the Nebraska Aggregate Board, was a faithful and devoted member of the Elba United Methodist Church, and also served on the Elba Housing Authority Board.

Coleen loved gardening, and even in retirement she tutored students in Math and English in her own home. She enjoyed sewing and going camping. However, she always said it was never really a vacation for her because she still had to work as the chief cook and bottle washer. Over the years, she and Dick enjoyed traveling together.

She is survived by her son, Jeff and Vickie Ingerle of Cheyenne, Wyoming; daughter, Debra and Randy Mewis of Kearney, Nebraska; grandchildren, Nikona Mewis of Kearney, Cary Ingerle of Cheyenne, WY, Robert and Alyssa Ingerle-West of Cheyenne, and Ashley and Cole Valdez of Mountain Home, ID; brother, Gary and Janet Piper of Red Oak, Iowa; and three great-grandchildren, Jac Crocker, Charlie Crocker, and Renton Engle.

Coleen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Dick; and granddaughter Amanda Mewis.