Obituaries

Cynthia “Cindy” Grace (Steffens) Kuntz, Commissioned Minister—teacher, departed this life on April 29, 2021, in Omaha, Nebraska. She was born on December 5, 1964, in Perryville, Missouri, to Donald and Florence Steffens. She was baptized at Salem Lutheran Church in Farrar, MO.  She attended grade school at Immanuel Lutheran School in Perryville and graduated from Perryville High School.  She completed her degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Music from Concordia Teachers College (now University), Seward, in 1987.

Cindy was married to Charles Kuntz on November 23, 1991. They were married for 29 years.  Throughout her career, she taught at Hope Lutheran and Our Redeemer Lutheran Schools in St. Louis, MO; Mount Calvary, St. Paul, and Zion Lutheran Schools in Omaha; and at Concordia Academy, Omaha since 2005. History and literature were her favorite subjects to teach. She also enjoyed sports, and she spent time as the Athletic Director at Our Redeemer and Concordia Academy, coaching many volleyball and basketball teams. She was a devoted wife and mother, rarely missing a sporting event or extra-curricular activity. She spent many summers driving her children to their practices and games. She was an active member at St. Mark Lutheran Church and was a member of the choir. In her leisure time she enjoyed reading, crochet, gardening and family trips.

Mrs. Kuntz is survived by her husband, Charles Kuntz; children, Ashley (Christian) Huesers, Mitchell Kuntz; stepchildren, Brandye (Randy) Bell, Dustin Kuntz; grandchildren, Joey and Kaylie; brothers, Jeff (Jill) Steffens, Neal (Mona) Steffens; sisters, Becky (Chip) Wilson, Amy (Ryan) Kutz; Sisters-in-law Carol Brueggemann, Judy (Dennis) Welch; Brother-in-law Lawrence (Kathy) Kuntz; numerous nieces and nephews. 

The funeral service will be held May 8, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Omaha, with visitation on May 7, from 5-7:00 p.m. Interment will be at Evergreen Memorial Park in Omaha.

Mrs. Robin L. (Taylor) Schermbeck, wife of the Reverend Robert Schermbeck, Seward, Nebraska, departed this life on Friday, April 9, 2021, at the age of 67. She was born on March 27, 1954, in Hinsdale, Illinois, and lived in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, until her mother’s death in 1963. She was reared by her aunt and uncle, Vera and Walter Janssen, in Buckley, Illinois. She attended Marion Hills Grade School and Zion Lutheran Elementary School in Hinsdale, Illinois. After moving from Hinsdale to Buckley at the age of 9, Robin attended St. John’s Lutheran School and Buckley-Loda High School in Buckley, Illinois.

In 1972, Robin moved to Winfield, Kansas, where she attended St. John’s College. It was there that she met Robert Schermbeck. Robin and Robert were married on August 4, 1974, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buckley, Illinois. They spent the early years of their married life working to put themselves through school at Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska, and at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

Robin had a heart for children, particularly those children who seemed to need a little extra guidance and care. That heart led her toward earning a teaching degree and Master’s degree in Family Life Ministry from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. She went on to teach junior high students at Immanuel Lutheran School in Junction City, Kansas, and St. Andrew’s Catholic School in Tecumseh, Nebraska. She also taught elementary school at Elk Creek Elementary School in Elk Creek, Nebraska.

In her spare time, Robin enjoyed sewing and quilting, music, arts and crafts, and baking excessive amounts of baked goods for family holidays. She also devoted her time by serving St. Peter’s Lutheran Church as secretary, youth leader, hand bell choir director, and VBS coordinator. Robin also remained a constant companion and partner in ministry with Robert for 44 years, finding unique ways to glorify God and help others. Together they served parishes in Madison, Nebraska, York, Nebraska, Junction City, Kansas, and Elk Creek, Nebraska.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Schermbeck; children, Timothy (Cassie), Andrew (Rebecca), Sarah (Barrett), and Amy (Christopher); her sisters, Taylor and Peggy, and brother, Jeffrey. She was the proud grandmother to her grandchildren: Jacob, Luke, Ellie, Madelyn, Samuel, Joanna, Sydney, Jackson, Isaiah, Ben, Levi, Colin, Hudson, Natalie, and two more on the way. Robin was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Verneda, and brother, Joseph Taylor.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, rural Elk Creek, Nebraska, with Rev. Dr. James Lamb officiating. The service will also be live streamed on the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Facebook page.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Monday, April 12, 2021, at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska. Interment will be in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Elk Creek, Nebraska.

Memorials may go to the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

Condolences may be sent to Rev. Robert Schermbeck, 2055 Meadow Lane #16, Seward, Nebraska 68434.

Roger L. Mailand, Commissioned Minister—Director of Christian Education Emeritus, departed this life on March 12, 2021, in Seward, Nebraska. He was born on January 2, 1941, in Seward, Nebraska, to Martin Charles and Martha Marie Crossett Mailand. He graduated from Concordia Teachers College (now University), Seward, in 1963. Throughout his career he served as a Lutheran school teacher and DCE. Congregations and schools served include: Zion, Auburn, MI; St. Paul, Farmington Hills, MI; St. Michael, Portage, MI; and as Executive Director of Youth and Family Life in the Missouri District for 14 years. He retired to Seward in 2009. Roger was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, member of the Noon Club of Kiwanis, and sang with the Kitones.

Mr. Mailand is survived by his wife, Sharon Mailand of Seward; sons, Michael (Diane) Mailand of Kalamazoo, MI; Joel (Rebecca) Mailand of Yakima, WA; grandchildren, Micah Joel Mailand and Ethan Matthew Mailand; brother, Richard (Charleen) Mailand of Seward; brothers-in-law, Lowell (Lorraine) Nokes of Alexandria, MN; Paul (Kathryn) Nokes of Manhattan, MT; Leslie (Debora) Nokes of Los Lunas, NM; Dennis (Kathy) Nokes of Seguin, TX; Dale Nokes of Parkers Prairie, MN; Keith (Jerlyn) Nokes of Hayward, CA; sister-in-law, Carolyn Nokes of Del Rio, TX; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; nephew, Brent Mailand; brothers-in-law, Raymond Nokes and Gary Nokes; sisters-in-law, Margie (Raymond) Nokes, Jeanne Nokes, and Donna Nokes; and his grandparents.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 18, 2021 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home in Seward, NE with family and friends gathering from 6:30-8:00.  The funeral service will be held Friday, March 19, 2021 at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward.  Interment will follow the service at the Seward Cemetery. (The funeral service will follow current directed health measures: masks are required, and social distancing will be observed.) If you cannot attend the service, you are invited to worship by live streaming on YouTube “St. John Seward Live Stream.”

Memorials should be made in care of St. John Lutheran Church, Seward; Concordia University, Nebraska; or Ridgewood Rehabilitation Center of Seward.

The Reverend Terrence “Terry” H. Daberkow, pastor emeritus, Scribner, Nebraska, departed this life on Friday, February 26, 2021, at the age of 81. He was born on July 1, 1939, in rural Beemer, Nebraska, to Harvey and Ada (Neiman) Daberkow. He was baptized July 23, 1939, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Beemer. Terry was confirmed March 29, 1953, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of West Point, Nebraska.

Terry attended school in Council Bluffs, Iowa; Immanuel Lutheran, rural Beemer; St. Paul’s Lutheran School in West Point; West Point High School; and graduated from high school in

Sheridan, Wyoming. He graduated from Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska, in 1963 with a degree in sociology with the Lutheran teacher diploma. He taught at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Vernon, Texas, for seven years.

Terry married Diane Baker and they had four children: Kim, Tad, Julie, and Dana. Terry and Diane later divorced. In 1970, he became a psychiatric social worker and program director at Vernon State Hospital in Vernon, Texas. He worked there until 1992 when he entered Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, graduating in 1995.

Pastor Daberkow married Mardell Peterson Schnoor on May 23, 1997. He served the following congregations during his ministry: Zion, Big Springs, and St. John’s, Brule, Nebraska (1995-1998); St. Paul’s, Bancroft, Nebraska (1998-2006); and rural Zion, Bancroft. He retired in July 2006, but continued to serve congregations when needed.

He enjoyed helping Eric and Kyle on the farm, gardening, reading, fishing on the Elkhorn River, playing guitar, visiting his many cousins, and visits from Mardell’s family. Terry suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and had been a resident at the Hooper Care Center since January 2020.

Pastor Daberkow is survived by his wife, Mardell Daberkow, Scribner; three daughters, Kim (friend Paul) Weaver, Vernon, Texas; Julie (Jim) Higgens, Tuscola, Texas; and Dana Daberkow, Abilene, Texas; one son, Tad (Cynthia) Daberkow, Vernon, Texas; two step-daughters, Laurie (Curt) Helgenberger and Karleen (Karl) Meyer, all of Scribner; two step-sons, Eric (Lynn) Schnoor and Kyle (Laura) Schnoor, all of Scribner; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; sister, Candace Daberkow, Denver, Colorado; brother, Vance (Emma) Daberkow, Mesa, Arizona; sister-in-law, Jan Daberkow, Monmouth, Oregon; two brothers-in-law, Neal Peterson and Lance (Donna) Peterson of West Point.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Dayton and Rod Daberkow; sisters-in-law, Aline Daberkow and Twyla Slagle; brother-in-law, Don Slagle; and parents-in-law, Bert and Dorothea Peterson.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 1, 2021, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Scribner, Nebraska. Interment will follow the service at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery, Snyder, Nebraska. Memorials are suggested to the Dodge County Fair Foundation or the Daily Chapel c/o St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in West Point.

Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Mardell Daberkow, 209 9^th Street, Scribner, Nebraska 68057.

Priscilla Ann Lawin, Commissioned Minister—teacher emeritus, departed this life on February 24, 2021, in Seward, Nebraska. She was born on August 6, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, to Herbert and Emma Knuth Lawin. She graduated from Concordia Teachers College (now University), Seward, in 1963 with a Bachelor’s in education, received a Master of Education from Kent State University in 1969, and her Doctor of Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1978.  Throughout her career she taught at Zion, Akron, OH (1963-1970); Concordia, Seward, NE (1970-2005); and served at Concordia, Selma, AL during a sabbatical from 1992-1993 and during her retirement.  She retired on August 31, 2005.

Having earned her Doctorate, she became the third female faculty member to do so in the history of Concordia in Seward.  Her doctoral research fit directly with her role of reading methods specialist as she studied the comparative readability of six Bible translations as seen through the eyes of 300 eighth grade students. Dr. Priscilla Lawin was named Professor of Education at Concordia in Seward in 1985. She then became Director of Elementary Education and Student Teaching in 1987, and she would serve many years in this role. She was honored to extend Concordia’s student teacher program to include schools in Hong Kong and Australia.

Priscilla was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by a sister, Celeste (Jeff) Craemer of San Rafael, California; a brother, Paul (Sandy) Lawin of Waverly Iowa; as well as by her nieces and nephew, Rebecca Lawin McCarley of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ami Lawin of Long Lake, Minnesota, and Peter (Johanna Lee) Lawin of Waconia, Minnesota; and four great-nephews, Patrick, Justin, and Lucas McCarley, and Teddy Lawin. Priscilla will be buried near her parents and many relatives at Riverview Cemetery in St Joseph, Michigan. A graveside service will be held at 12:00 on Saturday March 6, with Pastor Martin Measel officiating. Visitation with the family will be held prior to the service from 10:30-11:30 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel in St. Joseph.

Memorials may be made in her memory to Concordia University, or St John Lutheran Church in Seward, Nebraska, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

The Reverend Roland A. Jank, Sr., pastor emeritus, Omaha, Nebraska, departed this life on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at the age of 100. He was born in the parsonage at Canby, Minnesota, on July 14, 1920, to The Reverend Paul and Helen Jank. A third-generation pastor, he left home at age 14 to begin his pre-theological training at Concordia High School and Junior College in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his theological training at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, during WWII, graduating in 1945. He served his vicarage at Trinity Lutheran, Navasota, Texas.

Pastor Jank was ordained and installed in July, 1945, at Immanuel Lutheran in rural Amherst, Nebraska. He served Immanuel and, later, Grace Lutheran in Sumner for 11 years. For several of those years, he taught parochial school in a one-room school-house. He served for 15 years at Peace, Hastings, Nebraska; and seven years at Trinity, Guttenberg, Iowa, and St. Paul, McGregor, Iowa. From 1978-1994, he served at Immanuel, Columbus, Nebraska, as Assistant Pastor. From 1994-2004, his role changed to Visitation Pastor for his remaining years in Columbus. During those ten years, he officiated at 300 funerals. After retiring and moving to Immanuel Village in Omaha in 2004, he continued to serve the church making hospital calls on Mt. Olive parishioners at Immanuel Hospital for many years. He was faithful in the worship life and Bible study opportunities at Mt. Olive where his son, Roland, served as pastor and considered it a great joy to have his son as his pastor.

Pastor Jank served the church at large in the Southern Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as: member of the Town-Country Committee; editor of the District Supplement of the Lutheran Witness (1956-1966); District Public Relations Chairman (1958-1970); on the Circuit level he served as Walther League Christian Growth Chairman and Pastoral Counselor, LWML Pastoral Counselor, and Hastings Circuit Counselor. In the Nebraska District of the LCMS, Pastor Jank was Secretary of the District Centennial Steering Committee; Secretary of the District Constitution and Handbook Committee; Secretary of the Nebraska District; and member of the Nebraska District Board of Directors (1982-1985). In the Iowa District East of the LCMS, he was LWML Circuit Pastoral Counselor and Dubuque Circuit Counselor. He was honored by the Nebraska District in 2015 for having the longest tenure in the District – 70 years.

During his years in Amherst, he met and married his wife, Norma Buehler, on August 4, 1946. They were blessed with three sons: Roland, Jr., Michael, and Joel. Roland and Norma were married 51 years before her death in 1997. After Roland’s move to Immanuel Village, he served as a volunteer proof reader and librarian for the Village. He enjoyed playing ping pong and bean bags and often held the title of Bean Bag Champion. He regularly met with other Village residents for a night of joke telling.

Pastor Jank will be remembered by many for his incredible memory for names, his quick smile, and always for the jokes he had ready to tell. He supported his three sons in their musical and ministry pursuits throughout their lives and his grandchildren with monetary contributions to their college educations. He often said his first and last congregations were named Immanuel and his last home was Immanuel Village which means “God with us”. He lived his life knowing God was with him always as a saved child of God and often witnessed to his family, friends, and complete strangers about how much God loved them.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Norma; sisters, Lois Kroenke and Paula Jank; and brother-in-law, Robert Kroenke.

He is survived by his three sons: The Rev. Roland (Suzan) Jank, Omaha; Michael (Jill) Jank, Lincoln; Joel (Ellen) Jank, Hastings; eight grandchildren: Nathan (Jamie) Jank; Rachel (Jeff) Misiolek; Sarah (Josh) Callahan; Ryan Jank; Aaron (Kathleen) Jank all of Omaha; Jeremy Jank of Lincoln; Julie (Ramez) Habash of Hastings; Jonathan (Rachel) Jank of Seward; 12 great-grandchildren: Adela, Klara, and Lillia Jank; Evelyn, Eleanor, and Everett Misiolek; Stella Callahan; Zade, Leena, Jad, and Layla Habash; Phillip and Theo Jank; brother, Rev. Orville (Arlene) Jank; sister, Mary Dawson, of Wausau, Wisconsin; four nieces and nephews; and many friends in his former congregations and communities.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Omaha, Nebraska. Visitation will precede the service at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Kearney Cemetery in Kearney, Nebraska, at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday as well. Memorials can be directed to Lutheran Hour Ministries, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, or Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Omaha.

Condolences may be sent to Rev. Roland Jank, Jr., 3319 North 130^th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68164-4224.

Ellen Edith (Bergt) Glanzer, Commissioned Minister—Teacher Emeritus, departed this life on January 15, 2021, in Norfolk, Nebraska. She was born on May 21, 1933 in rural Schuyler, Nebraska to Erich J. and Gertrude (DeBower) Bergt. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, and educated at Immanuel Lutheran School, which had been founded in 1890 by her ancestors who homesteaded in the area.  She continued her education at Schuyler High School, and Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska, where she received teacher training, completing her studies in 1953. In 1974, she finally completed her Bachelor of Science degree from Concordia, in order to teach at Christ Lutheran School in Norfolk.  Throughout her career she served as teacher at Trinity, Arapahoe; Trinity, Fremont; and Christ, Norfolk. She retired in 1998.

Mrs. Glanzer is survived by her three children: Joan (Bachrun) LoMele, Pinehurst, California; Janet (Jon) Wiechelman, Hartington, Nebraska; and John (Anita) Glanzer of Oviedo, Florida; and one grandson, Aaron Wiechelman of Hartington, Nebraska. She is survived by one brother, Paul Bergt, of Omaha, Nebraska and one brother-in-law, Robert (Wanda) Glanzer of Kearney, Nebraska. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Harlan, on September 19, 2012; father and mother; special aunt Edith DeBower; sister, Ruth Brauer and her husband, Milford; brother, Ervin Bergt and his wife, Pearl; sister-in-law, Helen Bergt; brother-in-law, Ronald and his wife, Ruth Glanzer; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Glanzer.

Private family services for Ellen were held on January 20, 2021 at Christ Lutheran Church in Norfolk. A public memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at the church. Burial was in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk. Memorials may be directed to Christ Lutheran School, Orphan Grain Train, or Concordia University in Seward. Arrangements are under the direction of Home for Funerals.

Mrs. Debra “Deb” Alice (McLeod) Landsmann, wife of the Reverend Lon Landsmann, Juniata, Nebraska, departed this life on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at the age of 66 due to complications of cancer. She was born on July 1, 1954, to Robert and Mildred (Mowen) McLeod in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in Illinois and graduated from Westview High School in 1972. She worked at Montgomery Ward where she met Lon. They married on May 21, 1976, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kankakee, Illinois. They had lived various places in the Midwest where Lon served LCMS churches in Kansas, Illinois, and Ohio. She adapted and worked jobs in offices, hospitals, and schools. They moved to Nebraska in 2010 and settled in the Juniata area in 2014 where Pastor Landsmann is currently serving at Zion Lutheran Church, Juniata, and St. Paul Lutheran Church, Holstein, Nebraska. She worked as a para-educator at the Zion Classical Academy in Hastings. She found her calling dedicating her time and energy to helping students and staff in whatever capacity they needed.

Deb was a member of the Zion Wanda Lutheran Church, the Zionetz, the Dorcas Society at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Holstein, and served the Hastings Zone of the LWML. She enjoyed flower gardening, traveling, camping, walking, and attending grandchildren’s activities.

Deb is survived by her husband, Rev. Lon Landsmann, Juniata; one son, Robert (Rosie) Landsmann, Hebron, Nebraska; two grandchildren, Andrew and Audrey; brother, Robert (Shirley) McLeod, Colorado Springs, Colorado; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Rita (Hal) Schoof.

The service was held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 25, 2021, at Zion Wanda Lutheran Church, rural Juniata, Nebraska. Interment was in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Ellsworth, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Zion Classical Academy, Hastings, Nebraska.

Condolences may be sent to the family from www.apfelfuneralhome.com or mailed to Rev. Lon Landsmann, 4080 S. Wanda Avenue, Juniata, Nebraska 68955.

Ellen Edith (Bergt) Glanzer, Commissioned Minister—Teacher Emeritus, departed this life on January 15, 2021, in Norfolk, Nebraska. She was born on May 21, 1933 in rural Schuyler, Nebraska to Erich J. and Gertrude (DeBower) Bergt. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, and educated at Immanuel Lutheran School, which had been founded in 1890 by her ancestors who homesteaded in the area.  She continued her education at Schuyler High School, and Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska, where she received teacher training, completing her studies in 1953. In 1974, she finally completed her Bachelor of Science degree from Concordia, in order to teach at Christ Lutheran School in Norfolk.  Throughout her career she served as teacher at Trinity, Arapahoe; Trinity, Fremont; and Christ, Norfolk. She retired in 1998.

Mrs. Glanzer is survived by her three children: Joan (Bachrun) LoMele, Pinehurst, California; Janet (Jon) Wiechelman, Hartington, Nebraska; and John (Anita) Glanzer of Oviedo, Florida; and one grandson, Aaron Wiechelman of Hartington, Nebraska. She is survived by one brother, Paul Bergt, of Omaha, Nebraska and one brother-in-law, Robert (Wanda) Glanzer of Kearney, Nebraska. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Harlan, on September 19, 2012; father and mother; special aunt Edith DeBower; sister, Ruth Brauer and her husband, Milford; brother, Ervin Bergt and his wife, Pearl; sister-in-law, Helen Bergt; brother-in-law, Ronald and his wife, Ruth Glanzer; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Glanzer.

Private family services for Ellen were held on January 20, 2021 at Christ Lutheran Church in Norfolk. A public memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at the church. Burial was in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk. Memorials may be directed to Christ Lutheran School, Orphan Grain Train, or Concordia University in Seward. Arrangements are under the direction of Home for Funerals.