Jeannine was born in Papillion, Nebraska, to Fred and Lula Megel. We always called her mom. She is the 4th child – Robert, Lorraine, and Pat are older, Alyce is younger. Her dad owned the lumber, coal, and implement business in Papillion. The family was more affluent than some during the Depression, yet it was still rough because people didn’t have money to pay their bills, and so Lula and the kids had a big garden with canning duties in the fall. Mom said she never went hungry because of the garden.
She went to St. Columbkille's Sacred Heart elementary school and Papillion High School, graduating from the 12th grade. When you see her picture, you know she was a stand-out girl and probably had many courters. Mom stayed in touch with her high school friends as the years went on, participating in reunions. Her best friend was Donis Ruff and they got into some good trouble as they grew old together.
After high school, mom traveled to California and Colorado. Her mom died during this time. Like most local boys, our dad did some work for grandpa Megel. But daddy noticed mom as an adult when she was about 20 years old. Daddy was ten years older than her. He was in the war and came back, like lots of soldiers, to a strange new world. They went to many dances with other couples, especially to the Millard Ballroom. They were married in 1950 in Papillion.
Mom and dad had us, their children, in the 50s. Karen, Jim, Barb, and Bev. Come to find out, she didn’t like to cook. We knew her for her last-minute food preparation, for example, her famous undercooked pile of hamburger, cream of mushroom soup, and tater tots. But she did love to bake, always entering Pillsbury baking contests. One time she made a big batch of bread and it seemed like every chair in the kitchen had a dish pan of dough on it.
Mom was very active in the St. Columbkille Altar Society, as a 4-H leader, and community volunteer. She worked outside the home after we all finished grade school at the Sarpy County Courthouse. She sent us every NebGuide that the Extension Office ever published and was a wealth of information about growing trees, sewing, and grooming our rooms, among other things. She loved to read.
Mom had many neighborhood friends even though she lived in the country. We remember her talking for hours on the phone with her sister, Aunt Lorraine, who lived down the road. She went to every estate sale she could, talking with the people there and bringing home more boxes of towels than anyone needs.
Mom had an active imagination and loved holidays. The house was always decorated for Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, etc. She was the Easter Bunny, hiding candy three times on Easter Sunday for us to find and eat.
Over the years, mom became enamored with genealogy. She tracked family history on both sides. She was proud of where we came from and where we were going. She kept track of all her nieces and nephews. She has said that the hardest part of her life was when she lost her son, Jimmy, to cancer. But one of the best parts of her life is the granddaughter he blessed her with, Libby Jo.
Mom’s legacy is her love, sense of humor, and generosity.
Jeannine was preceded in death by her Husband, Klem; Son, Jim; Siblings, Robert, Lorraine, Pat, Alyce; Son-in-law, Gary.
Survived by Daughters, Karen, Barbara (Joel), Beverly (Jerry); Granddaughter, Libby (Chris); Daughter-in-law, Nancy (Charles) and Son, Zachary (Bailie); many Great-Grandchildren, Nieces, and Nephews.
VISITATION Monday 5-7pm with STORYTELLING 7-8pm at the Mortuary. FUNERAL MASS Tuesday 10:30am at St. Columbkille, Papillion. BURIAL Calvary Cemetery.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.KahlerDolceMortuary.com for the Kracher family.
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