Erna Annie Schlegel Duckworth
Erna Annie Schlegel Duckworth, age 99, was born on February 22, 1921, Dutchtown, MO, at home, the seventh of eleven children of Henry A. and Meyhulda Geiser Schlegel, now deceased.
She died on Friday, November 13 at Bellevue Hillcrest Health and Rehab.
Erna was baptized on March 29, 1921 and confirmed into the Missouri Synod Lutheran faith on Palm Sunday, March 21, 1937 at Evangelical Lutheran Church near Dutchtown, Missouri.
Erna married Merle Eugene Duckworth on September 10, 1944 in Omaha, Nebraska. Merle and Erna celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1994. They were charter members of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Bellevue, NE where they raised their family. Merle and Erna lived in Lakewood, Colorado for two years prior to Merle’s retirement from the Burlington-North Railroad. Merlepre-deceased Erna in 1996. Erna, nicknamed “Tiny”, worked as a riveter at Martin Bomber plant and in retail at various businesses in Bellevue until she retired.
Survivors include: son Ronald and wife Carol of Plattsmouth, NE; daughter Sharon and husband Roger Plummer of Council Bluffs, IA; brothers William Schlegel and wife Lavada of Missouri, and Melvin Schlegel of Illinois; granddaughter Monica Murphy Ryan and husband Jim of Gretna, NE; grandson Cory and wife Traci of Blair, NE; eleven great-grandchildren, Kobe and Braylee Duckworth; Cole and Jordan Murphy; Shalee Jo and husband Mike Bridwell, Teddi Rattenborg, Karsen Boysen, Evan Boysen, McKenna Boysen, Lauren Boysen, and Eddie Boysen; and two great-great grandchildren, Ryker and Scarlett. She is also survived by niece Patricia and husband Richard Conley; niece Marilyn Buchheit, nephew Joe Don Randol and wife Brenda, niece Judy and husband Don Summers; nephew Dennis Nagel and wife Linda, niece Kathy and husband Larry Meier, niece Sandra and husband Guy Brown; and many more of her beloved extended family and friends including the staff at Hillcrest who cared for Erna since June of 2019.
Private Visitation following CDC guidelines: Tuesday, November 17th, 1:00-2:00 p.m., followed by
Private Family Funeral Service following CDC guidelines at 2:00 p.m. both at the Bellevue Memorial Chapel.
To view video of the service, click the link below:
https://boxcast.tv/view/erna-a-duckworth-771154
Interment: Bellevue Cemetery
Memorials: Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 2311 Fairview Road, Bellevue, or a charity of your choice in Erna’s name.
3 Comments
We are saddened to hear the news of Erna’s passing. She was a very special lady! Our sincere sympathy to the family.
Sharing with you and the remembrances of Aunt Erne’s life… you have our love and sympathy..
remember the family reunions of great times we had! We look so forward to those! I heard she passed away on Uncle Merle’s birthday. they celebrated together. She is now together with most of the Schlegel family. Fondly remembering all of them… may we be together again someday rejoicing with our Savior!
Paul and I want to extend our condolences to the entire family of Erna. She was a delight to know and always had a smile that was infectious! She certainly passed on her joy of living to her daughter, Sharon – whom I love dearly! Praying that the memories of Erna and her treasured life will stay in your hearts forever. God Bless all of you! Julie and Paul Wagner
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