October 3, 1932 ~ October 3, 2024
Frances Madeline Kamler (92), Geneva, was called to be with God on her birthday, Oct. 3, 2024, at the Bryan West Hospital surrounded by her family. Frances was born on Oct. 3, 1932, at home on her family’s farm southwest of Grafton. She was baptized on Oct. 20, 1932, and was confirmed on Sept. 27, 1945, at St. Helena’s Catholic Church in Grafton. She was the youngest of 10 children born to Joseph and Caroline (Gillen) Zieren. Frances was a graduate of Geneva High School, class of 1950. Following high school, Frances was employed at the Fillmore County Clerk’s office in Geneva for two years. She then moved to Lincoln where she lived with her sisters and worked at the Equitable Life Insurance Company until her marriage in 1953. She married Linus Joseph Kamler April 18, 1953, and to this union four children were born; Susan, Steven, Joseph, and Patrick.
They began their life as a married couple by moving in with Linus’ parents on the Kamler family farm. For about six weeks, they shared households, and she learned to cook from her mother-in-law, until his parents moved to a newly built home in Geneva.
On the farm, Frances always planted a large garden and spent many hours canning and freezing fruits and vegetables. She loved flowers and included them in her garden, planting a new variety each year to see how they would turn out. She raised chickens, sold eggs, and enjoyed needlework and jigsaw puzzles. She teamed up with some neighborhood women and bowled in a Sutton bowling league. But Frances’ passion was gardening and her family was the center of her life.
Frances was a long-time member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Shickley where she served on the St. Mary’s Altar Society until 2001. After moving to Geneva, she served on the St. Joseph Altar Society until late in her eighties. She was an early member of the Shickley Legion Auxiliary and helped with the assembly of two Quilts of Valor in 2019.
She and Linus purchased her parents’ family farm near Grafton which they farmed along with the Kamler home place. She was delighted when they were awarded the Nebraska Pioneer Award for the Zieren farm in 1988, as well as the Kamler farm in 2018. This award recognizes the family farm, which has been owned and farmed by someone in the Zieren and Kamler family for 100 years.
Frances had a delightful sense of humor, especially later in life. She attended her grandchildren’s activities over the years, even watching the last football game from her hospital bed. She always smiled at Linus’ daily greeting to her, “Good morning, Sunshine.” She was a beloved wife, mother, mother- in-law, and grandmother. She was loved by many and will be forever missed.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Linus Kamler; her parents, Joseph and Caroline Zieren; and everyone in her family of her generation; her siblings, Lenore Hansen (Alvin Hansen), Irene King (John King), Wilma Baird (Les Baird), Ethel Krull (John Krull), Bernard (Bud) Zieren (Anne Zieren), Mary Garbers (Milt Garbers), Raymond Zieren, Florence Faughn (Frank Faughn), and Ellen Voss (Archie Voss).
She is survived by her children Susan Kamler (Linda) of Denver, CO, Steven Kamler (Ann), Joseph Kamler (Gina), and Patrick Kamler (Renae) all of Shickley; grandchildren: Amanda Williams (Laron), Andrew Kamler, Courtney Dressman (Jared), Isaac, Josiah, Macy, and Levi Kamler, Madeline and Malinda Kamler; great-grandsons, Andrew, Abram, and Adlai Williams.
Praying of the Rosary was at 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Geneva, with Father Harlan Waskowiak leading the Rosary.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Frances was at 10 a.m., Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Geneva, with Father Waskowiak presiding.
Organist, Carol Grote, accompanied the congregation as they sang, “Be Not Afraid,” “Here I Am Lord,” “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman,” “Song of Farewell,” and “On Eagle’s Wings.”
Pallbearers included Andrew Kamler, Isaac Kamler, Josiah Kamler, Levi Kamler, Laron Williams and Jared Dressman.
Honorary Pallbearers were Amanda Williams, Courtney Dressman, Macy Kamler, Madeline Kamler, and Malinda Kamler.
Graveside Services followed the Funeral Mass at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Geneva.
Memorials were directed to the Fillmore County Medical Clinic, Geneva Senior Center or Shickley American Legion Auxiliary.
Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements.
