Ginny Unzicker

    Virginia Emma Unzicker, 94, of Imperial, Nebraska, died Monday morning, July 8, 2019, at Monarch Hospice Home in Lincoln, Nebraska.
    Virginia “Ginny” was born April 30, 1925, in Holyoke to Morse Allen and Ruby Maude (Ellis) Kistler. She graduated from Phillips County High School in May 1944 and attended Colorado Women’s College and Oregon State University.
    In 1945, Virginia moved to Portland, Oregon, to assist her widowed sister with her infant daughter. It was in Portland that Virginia met Sam O. Unzicker, who was serving in the U.S. Navy. On Oct. 20, 1946, the couple wed in Holyoke and settled on the family farm west of Lamar, Nebraska, near the Colorado/Nebraska border to raise their family.
    Virginia and Sam remained there until 1973, when they relocated to the Blanche community in northeast Chase County, Nebraska. In 2001, they moved to Imperial while continuing to farm. This union lasted 69 years until Sam’s death on Jan. 23, 2016.
    Ginny was an active and hardworking farm wife; she enjoyed working outside with Sam and valued time spent around the table with her family. She loved gardening, playing cards with neighbors and weekend dances with friends. She was very involved in her community and church, serving as a Sunday school teacher for many years. Later in life, she enjoyed spending time with family and friends while playing bingo and working over many jigsaw puzzles.
    Above all else, Grandma Ginny’s love was for her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved her visits with them and listened intently to their adventures. Being a grandparent was one of her greatest joys.
    Survivors include five children, Connie Lappin and husband Tom of Chandler, Arizona, Doy Unzicker and friend Joyce Huff of Lincoln, Nebraska, Peggy Smith and friend Marv Nesiba of North Platte, Nebraska, Kim Unzicker of Greeley, and Terri Leibbrandt and husband Tim of Imperial; 12 grandchildren, Julie Barber, Dawn and Dave Thompson, Sydney and Andy Joyce, Ashley and Jay Hoffman, Lindsey and Bruce Fromme, Megan and Joel Mueller, Bret and Jodi Smith, Matthew Anderson, Tara Anderson and Alex Sandoval, Wade and Celeste Leibbrandt, Ellen and Tyler Hughes, and Paula Leibbrandt; 20 great-grandchildren, JaCasta, Sebastian, Remington, Solomon, Macrina, Delia, Dexter, Harrison, Rory, Austin, Taylor, Blake, Makenzie, Kayden, Jace, Jada, Londyn, Colin, Garrett and Nolan; and three siblings, Catha and Randy Stewart, Karen and Shannon Robinson, and David and Judy Kistler.
    She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant daughter, one brother and two sisters.
    Funeral services were held July 13 at First United Methodist Church in Imperial with pastors Melody Newman and Kent Griffen officiating. Interment followed the service at the Blanche Cemetery in rural Chase County.
    A memorial has been established to the United Methodist Church Deborah Circle.
    Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.
    Liewer Funeral Home in Imperial has been entrusted with the arrangements.