Phyllis Victoria Tishendorf

Phyllis was born in Funk, Neb. on July 5, 1928 to Arnold Alfred Emmanuel and Amy Victoria Nelson. She grew up on a farm near Axtell, Neb. and graduated from Wilcox High School in 1945.

Phyllis attended Nebraska State Teachers College (later known as Kearney State College) where she earned her 2-year teaching certificate. She began her elementary teaching career in Osceola and then taught in Madrid, Nebraska, where she met E. Robert (Bob) Tishendorf.

They married Aug. 17, 1952, and eventually 3 daughters joined their family – Rebecca Jo, Janet Gwen (called Tanny), and Susan Eda.

Phyllis also taught in Sutherland and lived in Venango and Sidney before moving to Chappell, where she spent much of her adult life. There she worked as a substitute teacher, hospital receptionist, telephone company secretary, and her husband's insurance office secretary.

She was very active in her church, Berea Lutheran, serving as organist, choir accompanist, Sunday School teacher, quilter, member of various committees, member and leader in Women of the ELCA, and participant in adult Sunday School. Phyllis was the first female to ever serve on the Berea church council.

She loved to garden, play the piano, cook, bake, and brighten others' lives. She was active in various civic organizations, among them Women's Extension Club; P.E.O; and Chappell Housing Authority.

Phyllis and Bob retired together in 1995. They moved to Sidney in 2008 and then to Bellevue in 2012, where they became members of Immanuel Lutheran Church. One of Phyllis's greatest joys was spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Phyllis died at the Louisville Care Center in Louisville, Neb., on June 6, 2014, clutching a cross, with her husband and 3 daughters by her side. She is survived by her husband of nearly 62 years, Bob; her 3 daughters, Becky and husband Lance Bonham of Sunnyvale, Calif.; Tanny and husband Jeff Akerson of Bellevue; Susan Tishendorf of Papillion; 2 grandchildren – Amy and husband Aaron Bomgaars; Adam and wife Mollie Akerson; 3 step-grandchildren – Chris Bonham, Geoff Bonham, Natalie Bonham; 3 great grandchildren – Charlie and Jack Bomgaars; Collins Akerson; 1 step-great grandchild – Cristian Valencia; 1 sister – Rosalie Huss and husband Roger of Milford, Neb.

A memorial service for Phyllis will be held Tues., June 10th, at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bellevue, Neb. Inurnment will follow in the church's columbarium. Heafey-Heafey-Hoffman-Dworak-Cutler Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

A memorial has been established in Phyllis's name to Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (NLOM), 27416 Ranch Road, Ashland, NE 68003.