Etta Louise (Gamel) Van Buren, 87, of Nebraska City, Formerly of Oakland NE

Etta Louise (Gamel) Van Buren was born November 4, 1927 in Page, Nebraska to Harvey and Minnie (Buskirk) Gamel. She passed away Thursday, May 21, 2015 at Duffs Friendship Village, Nebraska City, Nebraska at the age of 87 years.
Etta attended country school near Page until the 8th grade, quitting school to help her widowed mother run their farm.
On December 20, 1945, Etta married Ralph Van Buren, Jr. They resided on a farm between Page and O’Neill, Nebraska.
Ralph enlisted in the US Army in January 1946. Prior to his enlistment, Etta became pregnant with their first child. Complications arose in the pregnancy and Ralph returned home in October 1946 with an honorable discharge to care for Etta and the baby. Upon his return home, they began their married life together. Ralph returned to farming as an occupation, and Etta became his right hand man, devoted wife and mother. Ten more children were born of this union.
In 1966 they moved to an acreage south of Oakland, where they raised their 11 children. As you may imagine, raising 11 children required Etta to wear many hats.
Etta milked several heard of cattle alongside her husband. Etta cooked extremely large, delicious meals. It was nothing for her to peel 10 pounds of potatoes for a single meal. Etta was an excellent cook and baker, and set one day a week to bake rolls that would last until the next week. Running to the store for bread was not an option.
Etta and Ralph always planted a large garden. Many days of canning occurred throughout the summer and in the fall. The basement shelves needed to be filled in order to last through the winter. Etta beamed with pride, and did not hesitate to share how many jars she had canned, often times inviting people down to the basement to view her work.
Etta loved her family deeply, and was heard many times saying, “If I had it to do all over again, I would” in regards to having 11 children.
At the end of Etta’s life, she had not only raised 11 of her own children, but also took part in raising 19 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. Her legacy lives on in these lives. Her sacrifice and hard work will never be forgotten. As her grandson Evan would say, “Grandma could make something out of nothing, and it was always good”.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Minnie Gamel; husband, Ralph; four brothers, Pat, Ed, Lester, Sanford; four sisters, Bessie, Francis, Shirley, Irene; two sons, Ivan, Dale; two grandsons, Blaine, Timmy; one granddaughter, Tonya.
She is survived by nine children, Kathy Olson (Floyd Munson) of Talmage, NE, Zenith Pawling (Kaye Osterloh) of Hooper, NE, Lloyd (Patty) of Utica, SD, Velda (Jerry) Godaire of Fremont, NE, Kevin (Frankie) of New Port, VA, Rick (Elma) of Scribner, NE, Larry of Oakland, NE, Tamela Van Buren (Timothy Byron) of Nebraska City, Anneeta Van Buren of Fremont, 16 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren.
FUNERAL SERVICE: Thursday, May 28, 2015, 10:30 a.m. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oakland, Nebraska.
VISITATION: Wednesday 5-8 p.m. with family receiving friends at Pelan Funeral Services Oakland. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service at the church.
BURIAL: Oakland Cemetery
MEMORIALS: To the family for designation at a later time.

Etta Van Buren