Obituary
Fredrick Jerome Ekeler

Fred Jerome Ekeler, son of Frank and Anna (Barkmeier) Ekeler, was born September 30, 1915, at Exeter, Nebraska. He died July 8, 1968, following a short illness in a Lincoln hospital, at the age of 52 years and 9 months.

A lifetime resident of Exeter, Fred was born and reared on a farm north of Exeter and graduated from Exeter High School in 1933.

In 1936 he took employment in the Guy Phelps Pharmacy, and in 1945 entered into partnership with Mr. Phelps. Following the death of Mr. Phelps in 1962, Fred took over ownership of the store and served as proprietor until his death.

May 8, 1944, in St. Joseph's Church in Geneva, he was united in marriage to Jean Hourigan of Geneva. Three children were born to this union, Marguerite, Fred Jr., and Jerome.

Survivors are his wife, Jean; and children, Marguerite of Hebron, Fred Jr., and Jerome at home; his mother, Mrs. Frank Ekeler Sr., and six brothers, Alfred, Leo, William, Henry and Joseph, all of Exeter, and Dr. Louis Ekeler of David City; also numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father and three brothers, August, who died in infancy; Frank and Msgr. John F. Ekeler.

The funeral mass was said at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 11, at St. Stephen's Church in Exeter, with Msgr. H. H. Ingenhorst officiating. Pallbearers were Walt Barkmeier, Clarence Dawson, John Drommond, Elmer McCabe, Leo W. Murphy and Thurston Phelps. Interment was in the Exeter Cemetery.

The Nebraska Signal
Geneva, Nebraska
July 1968

Obituary
Frances Jean (Hourigan) Ekeler

Frances Jean Ekeler was born to Charles Hourigan and Mary Murphy Hourigan on July 4, 1918 at Geneva, Nebraska and passed away September 20, 1993 at Warren Memorial Hospital in Friend, Nebraska at the age of 75 years, 2 months and 16 days. She was one of five children in the family.

Francis Jean attended St. Joseph's School in Geneva through eighth grade and graduated  from Geneva High School in May 1937. Throughout High School  and after graduation she was employed by a variety of businesses including   Marguerite's Shoppe, The Bakery and Hesteds.

On May 8, 1944, Frances Jean was married to Fred J. Ekeler of Exeter and to them three children were born. Soon after their marriage, Fred and Jean went into partnership with Guy and Josephine Phelps in the Exeter Pharmacy. Following the death of Guy Phelps, the pharmacy was converted to a variety and sundry store, with Fred and Jean as owners and operators. In 1968, with the death of her husband, Jean accepted the challenge of continuing the family business. For 20 years Jean, with the help of her faithful co-worker, Viola Crowder, was able to continue providing residents of the Exeter area with a variety of merchandise and services. In 1988 failing health made it necessary for Jean to close the store. Her retirement was spent enjoying her home and family.

Frances Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Fred, who passed away after a short illness in 1968, her son, Fred Jr., who died following a liver transplant in February, 1985, her parents, Charles and Mary Hourigan, two sister, Marguerite Swails of Geneva and Kathleen Wendel of Denver, Colorado, and a brother, Charles of York.

She is survived by son, Jerome of Exeter, a daughter Marguerite Ekeler of Hebron, one sister, Geraldine Hourigan of Friend, a daughter-in-law Kathy Ekeler of Omaha, and a sister-in-law Mary Ann Hourigan of York, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The Rosary was prayed on Wednesday evening at 7:30 at Farmer Funeral Home. Funeral Mass was conducted at St. Stephen's Church in Exeter on Thursday, September 23 with Father Glaves officiating. Agnes Anderson, niece of the deceased, served as organist, accompanying the Cantor, Lisa Mahoney. Doug Anderson served as Lector and Mark Becker as Acolyte. Peter Ruhl, a special friend of the family, served as one of the altar boys. Bob and Sue Ann Romohr carried the offertory gifts.

Nephews serving as pallbearers were Wilfrid Ekeler of Exeter, Mike Hourigan, Tom Ekeler, and Kenneth Ekeler of York, Jim Ekeler of Lincoln and Dan Ekeler of Utica. Honorary pallbearers included nephews John Swails, Patrick Hourigan and Larry Wendel.

Interment was in the Exeter Cemetery with Farmer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Memorials were directed to St. Stephen's Church or Warren Memorial Hospital.

Card of Thanks

We wish to express our sincere thanks for the many expressions of concern and sympathy extended to us following the death of Frances Jean Ekeler. A very special Thank You to Father Glaves for his visits and prayers, and to the Altar Society for their assistance with the funeral dinner. Once again, you have proven that it is great to belong to a small community. Our humble thanks. God's blessing to all.

Jerome and Marge Ekeler
Kathy Ekeler
Geraldine Hourigan
Mary Ann Hourigan

Fillmore County News
Exeter, Nebraska
September 30, 1993

From the Pen....
....of H.J.H.

In Memoriam
Frances Jean Ekeler

Recently a motto that I had heard came to mind, how true it is. Quote "The only thing in this world that is permanent is change." Truly our lives are changed in so many ways. To accept changes  in our lives can be the most difficult of all situations in which we find ourselves.

Many people are unable to accept the changes which disrupt their lives, be it sickness, death in a family, rejection, criticism, marital problems etc.  Drugs, liquor, pills and depression become their so-called support in their daily lives. However, there are many who because of their faith in God, their love of family and friends make their lives worth while not only for self but for everyone with whom they associate.

Today I am thinking of a dear friend Frances Jean Ekeler who made life worthwhile for her family, friends and the Exeter community through her service for so many years at the Exeter Pharmacy. Despite the loss of her husband and son in death, she with the loving help of her daughter Margie and son Jerome continued in business as long as her health permitted. We are sure that it was her faith in God and her devotion to her religion that made it possible for her to accept the sorrows and changes that came to her life.

May she now have received her eternal reward from the hands of the Father of all mankind.

Jean Ekeler
with daughter Marguerite and son Jerome
circa 1978

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