Eileen Moss
On the evening of Aug. 27, 2022, Eileen Moss, 81, of Holyoke, died peacefully at her residence, surrounded by family, in the arms of Jesus.
She was born March 19, 1941, at home north of Unionville, Missouri, to Joy and Gladys (Oldenburg) Sporhase. She was the second of four children. She was welcomed home by an older sister, Marlene, and followed by a sister, Janet, and a brother, Gary.
Eileen was baptized July 8, 1941, in Otoe County, Nebraska, and was confirmed on May 29, 1955, at St. John American Lutheran Church, Sterling, Nebraska. She declared her faith in Jesus Christ as it was woven into every day of her life.
Eileen attended a one-room country school at the age of 4 to meet the required student count to keep the school open. At an early age, she could see others in need and assisted the younger students with learning through the eighth grade. Eileen graduated from Douglas High School on May 15, 1958.
On Nov. 14, 1958, Eileen married the love of her life, Delmer Billy Moss, at Hope Lutheran Church in Burr, Nebraska. Shortly after marriage, Delmer and Eileen, with Eileen’s parents, bought a farm near Bradshaw in York County, Nebraska. During this time, Eileen and Delmer were blessed with three daughters: Vickie (1960), Janette (1961) and Susan (1964).
Eileen took great pride in raising and showing their registered Aberdeen-Angus cattle herd. Eileen also drove trucks, helped with irrigation and performed any other farm chores. It was then that a neighbor lady shared her recipe for the famous crazy cake that Eileen soon perfected and loved to share with everyone.
In February of 1967, the farming operation moved again to Holyoke, where land was being developed for irrigation. Their Bradshaw neighbors, the Ocken, Brackhan and Klute families, would soon follow and join the Holyoke community.
The family was blessed and completed with a fourth daughter, Kellie (1968). Delmer and Eileen loved to follow and support all their daughters’ school sporting events and school activities. She also enjoyed gardening, cooking, coaching softball and teaching catechism classes at Zion Lutheran Church. Delmer and Eileen enjoyed the many good times with the LARD Wagon, catering meetings and weddings and hosting World Series/Super Bowl parties.
Eileen worked outside the home, but her real passion was always serving and caretaking of others. This led her and several friends, Ardis Conklin and Janet Hubp, to start a compassionate service organization called Caring and Sharing. They served those in need by either driving them to their doctor’s appointments, buying groceries or delivering meals.
Eileen would also later become a hospice care volunteer. She walked with many family members and friends through their last stage of life. Eileen also participated in the Relay for Life luminaries, hosting visiting teams involved with the local Babe Ruth baseball tournaments, bake sales, funeral dinners and any type of fundraising.
Eileen was the ultimate grandma. She doted and spoiled them especially with crazy cake, sweet rolls and cookies. Time on the farm was always fun and full of love. She and Delmer drove endless miles supporting all eight of their grandchildren in their school activities, graduations and weddings. Eileen’s biggest legacy to her family was her faith in God, which was evident by her smiling, positive attitude.
Delmer and Eileen celebrated 60 years of marriage together on Nov. 14, 2018. In the end, both Delmer and Eileen struggled with declining health issues, with Delmer passing away Oct. 24, 2019.
Eileen is survived by her four daughters, Vickie and Kurt Cunningham, Janette Brown, Susan and Mark Gueck, and Kellie and Ed Race; grandchildren, Tyson Cunningham, Whitney and husband Jakke Aoga, Dillon Cunningham and Moni-Qua, Tyler and wife Logan Brown, Kyle Brown, Marquel and husband Jon Vance, Kordell Gueck and Victoria Race; great-grandchildren, Briggsland and Brylon Vance and Jack and Kylo Brown; sisters, Marlene and husband Bill Haeffner and Janet Werth; brother, Gary Sporhase; sister-in-law, Delores Stoner; brother-in-law, Ken and wife Coranne Moss; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Moss and Kathleen Moss; brother-in-law, Ned Snyder; and many loved nieces and nephews.
Eileen was preceded in death by her husband, Delmer Moss; parents, Joy and Gladys Sporhase; in-laws, Elmer and Minnie Moss; sisters-in-law, Norma and husband Calvin LaFollette, Jean and husband Elmer Schulte, and Karen Snyder; brothers-in-law, Gerald Werth, Harold Moss, Merle Moss and James Moss; nephew, Jon Moss; and niece, Amy Stoner.
Celebration of life was held at Zion Lutheran Church in Holyoke on Sept. 3, with an inurnment service on Sept. 5, at Hope Lutheran Cemetery, Burr, Nebraska.
Memorial funds will be given to Hospice of the Plains and Zion Lutheran Church.