Louanne E. Deermer

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Norfolk — Louanne Elizabeth Deermer, 92, of Norfolk, formerly of Chambers, died Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 at The Meadows Senior Living in Norfolk.

Visitation was held Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 30, 2024 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chambers. Rev. Leif Hasskarl and Vicar Tim Reicks officiated.

Burial was in the Chambers Cemetery in Chambers.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Louanne was born on Nov. 11, 1931 to Edward and Ruby (Schaffer) Eisenhauer in Lincoln. She and her family lived in Syracuse until she was four, then they moved to a ranch north of Chambers. She attended Chambers High School, graduating with the class of 1948. While in school she was a cheerleader, sang in chorus and played basketball.    

After high school, Louanne received her teaching certificate from Nebraska Wesleyan College in Lincoln. She returned to the Chambers area and taught three and half years at District 156.

Louanne married Lloyd Hilligas at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chambers in 1951. To this union four children were born Cynthia, Janette, Ronny and Amy.  She stayed home to raise her family until they divorced, when Louanne and the kids moved to town. She worked as a waitress and part-time bookkeeper until she had the opportunity to become Postmaster in Chambers in 1968.

Louanne met Paul Deermer and the couple married on Oct. 6, 1979 in Chambers.  

In 1992, she was named the Postmaster of the Year. She retired in 1996.  

After retiring, she was instrumental in starting the Meals on Wheels program in Chambers. Louanne was a para for the school and volunteered at the Evergreen Assisted Living in O'Neill. In 2019 she moved to The Meadows in Norfolk due to health reasons.

Louanne was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chambers and was also on the Ladies Aid Committee for many of the church functions. She was a member of the Better Ways Extension Club, a member of the National League of Postmasters, serving as the secretary/treasurer of the Nebraska branch.  She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and received the Chambers Community Person of the Year Award.

Louanne enjoyed knitting, gardening, doing crossword puzzles and loved to read. She also enjoyed golfing, going on walks, birdwatching and loved all her kids, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all her nieces and nephews. Louanne loved her Chambers community family.

Louanne is survived by her four children Cynthia (Michael) Meyer of Lincoln, Janette (Scott) Nixon of Norfolk, Ronny (Becky) Hilligas of Fairbury and Amy (Rory) Rathje of Gravois Mills, MO; 13 grandchildren Matthew (Brenda) Tracy, Mitchell Tracy, Merrick (Alexis) Tracy, Debra Tracy, Katie (Jeff) Austin, Samuel (Merissa) Nixon, Klancy (Ryan Throop) Nixon, Charles (Lydia) Nixon, Heidi (Brandon) Copeland, Levi (Leanne) Hilligas, Aaron (Sasha) Hilligas, Rily (Amy) Rathje and Alec Rathje; 25 ½ great-grandchildren; a special cousin Darlene Stutheit; many nieces and nephews; and her great friend Sharleen Miller

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Paul Deermer in 1990, two infant great-grandchildren William Hilligas and Georgia Copeland, sister and brother-in-law Kay and Jerry O'Malley and sister Deborah Eisenhauer.         

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