Violet ValJean Long

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Violet ValJean (Fortkamp) Long was born June 12, 1929, to Henry C. and Sophie (Haarberg) Fortkamp on their farm southwest of Wauneta, Nebraska.
Violet was baptized into the Christian Faith at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, rural Wauneta, on July 7, 1929. Her sponsors were Doris Bartels and Maria Keiser. She was confirmed on April 18, 1943, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church by Pastor W. H. Wendling.
On Jan. 1, 1950, Violet was united in marriage to Wendell J. Long. To this union two children were born, Linda and James. They lived on a farm southeast of Wauneta, and Violet enjoyed helping her husband with the farm work.
In June of 1992, she moved into the Wauneta community following Wendell’s illness and passing. Violet’s pastimes were music and writing songs and poetry. She was recognized both locally and nationally for her poetry and was published in the World of Poetry Book and was named Golden Poet of 1991.
She was a longtime member of Redeemer Lutheran Church of Wauneta. Violet’s family was her pride and joy, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Violet passed away Tuesday morning, May 1, 2018, at the Dundy County Hospital in  Benkelman. She was 88 years of age.
Survivors include daughter, Linda (Dennis) Leitner of North Platte; son, James (Annette) Long of Wauneta; grandchildren, DeLynna (Josh) Schilz, Matthew (Allyson) Leitner, Andrea (Shawn) Glenn, Julie (Jon) Sparrow, Jessica (Ben) Johnson, Melissa (Logan) Pearse; great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Sydney, Cheyenne, Madison and Michael Leitner, Karley Schilz, Amberlynn, Bentley and Kylie Glenn, Violet and Adam Sparrow, Austin and Easton Johnson, Kayden and Grayson Pearse; brother, Martin (Erma) Fortkamp of McCook; sisters-in-law, Nina Fortkamp of Imperial, Shirley Thacker of California, Janet Solis, of Mexico City, Mexico, and Glenda (Don) Milby of Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Violet was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wendell; eight brothers, Bill, Fred, John, Ervin, Albert, LaVern, Emil, and Art; sisters, Hilda Roschewski and Velma Doetker.
Funeral services were held Monday, May 7, at 10:30 a.m.  at the Redeemer Lutheran Church of Wauneta with Pastor David McCarthy officiating. Interment followed at the Riverside Cemetery in Wauneta.
Visitation was held Sunday, May 6, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home in Wauneta.
A memorial has been established in Violet’s memory.
Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.
Liewer Funeral Home of Wauneta was entrusted with arrangements.

 

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