Nina Georgia Fortkamp
Nina Georgia (Brown) Fortkamp was born July 28, 1922, to John and Rossa (Krutsinger) Brown at the Chase County Hospital in Imperial, Nebraska, the fifth of seven children.
Nina was raised on the family farm in Dundy County, attended rural school nearby and graduated from Dundy County High School, Benkelman, in 1939.
Nina earned her teaching certificate and began a teaching career in rural schools of Dundy and Chase Counties including the Sandburn District, Enders School and the Eden District. She later continued her education at Chadron State College where she completed her teaching degree.
During WWII, Nina moved to Bremerton, Washington, living with her sisters; Jean and Lorene, and worked in the Bremerton Navy shipyard, working mostly the graveyard shift. Nina was very proud of her service. After the war, she continued her teaching career at various schools in Dundy and Chase Counties of Nebraska.
On June 8, 1952, Nina and Arthur F. Fortkamp were united in marriage at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of rural Wauneta, where they were both members. The couple made their home on the Fortkamp farmstead just inside Chase County, on the South Divide. Nina taught many years at Wauneta Public Schools until retirement after a total of 48 years of teaching. Nina loved teaching and loved her students as if they were her own children.
Nina took many art classes and participated in art exhibits throughout the area. She was well known for her paintings of scenery, but also painted other objects. Nina was very proud of her paintings and had many awards for her skill. She was a member of the Art Guild of McCook. Although painting was her passion, arrowhead hunting, and attending dances in the early years were favorite hobbies. Nina moved to the Imperial Heights in Imperial, after Art’s death in 2014.
Nina passed away early Sunday morning, Oct. 13, 2019, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial. Nina was 97 years of age.
Survivors include brother Don Brown of Imperial; brothers-in-law: Don Welch of Champion, Martin Fortkamp of McCook; many special nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and a host of friends
Nina was preceded in death by her parents, John and Rossa Brown; husband, Arthur; brothers, Ken Brown and wife, Idella, Bill Brown and wife, Violet (Bubbles), Bob Brown and wife, Helen; sisters Lorene Grimes and Jean Welch; father and mother-in-law Henry and Sophia Fortkamp; brothers and sisters-in-law: Betty Brown, William and Ada Fortkamp, Emil and Opal Fortkamp, LaVern Fortkamp, Hilda and William Roschewski, Velma and Albert Doetker, Violet and Wendell Long, and Erma Fortkamp.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, Oct. 17, 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of rural Wauneta, with Pastor Keith Wellman officiating. Interment will follow at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Wauneta.
Visitation was held Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2-6 p.m. at Liewer Funeral Home, Wauneta.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, rural Wauneta.
Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.
Liewer Funeral Home of Wauneta entrusted with arrangements.