Doris Jan Bobin Meyer Wacker
November 29, 1927 to January 12, 2023
SPRINGDALE, Arkansas — Doris Jean Bobinmeyer Wacker died on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at the Circle of Life Hospice House in Springdale at the age of 95.
She was born on November 29, 1927, at home on the Bobbinmeyer Homestead in Hitchcock County, Nebraska, just north of Herndon, Kansas, to John Edward and Anna Blanche (Drain) Bobbinmeyer.
Doris attended one-room country school through eighth grade and attended and graduated from Herndon High School in 1945. That fall, she moved to Salina, Kansas, where she trained as a nurse at her College in Marymount. She was unable to complete the study because she developed severe allergies to both the strong soaps used in medical scrubs and the sulfa drugs used to treat the symptoms. There she recovered. One of her last words she spoke was about the loving care she received from her sister St. Joseph during her recovery.
Returning home and still wanting to work in the medical field, she got a job at Dundee County Hospital in Benkelman, Nebraska, where she worked as a night shift attendant for several years. She needed a change She returned to her home in 1949, where she worked as a clerk at Wacker’s Her Grocery in Culbertson, Nebraska, where Freddie was introduced to Wacker. We both fell in love at first sight! They dated her for three months and were married on October 9, 1949.
After their marriage, Doris and Freddie lived in McCook, Nebraska before retiring in 1977 and moving to Rogers, Ark. Bella, Arkansas her Vista, Mesa, Arizona, Apache Junction, Arizona, and finally she moved to Centerton, Archiva in 2000 to get closer to her family. They celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in October 2010, just months before Freddie died.
Doris spent her final years at The Gardens, an Osage Terrace assisted living facility in Bentonville, Ark. She was a lifelong Methodist, an avid Cornhusker fan of hers, an avid MLB devotee of hers, and an excellent bridge player.
In addition to her beloved husband Freddie, she predeceased her parents. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred Wacker Sr. and Margaret (Olmstead) Wacker. her brother June Bobinmeyer and her sister Norma Strunk. her brother-in-law, Leo Roussel; her sister-in-law, Vera Bobbinmeyer; her brother and sister-in-law, Doug and Wilma Bobbinmeyer; her stepsisters and stepsisters, Bob and Bonnie Wacker, Mike and Diana Wacker. Nephews Doug Bobbinmeyer, Jim Bobbinmeyer, David Bobbinmeyer, Rocky Struck, Scott Wacker. and her niece Carol Ann Compass.
She is survived by her brother Bob Bobbinmeyer and sister Betty Roussel. Her children, John Wacker, Higby, Missouri. Cathy (Tim) Schlegel, Yuka, Oklahoma; Roxanne Pierson (Jack Friedline), Mesa, Arizona; and Tammy Bennett (Terry), Estes Park, Colorado. Grandson, True Pearson (Kimberly), Franklin, Tennessee. Megan Mayo (Chuck), Gravett, Arkansas; Jason Wacker, Columbus, Nebraska; Kelly Burks (Jeff), Little Rock, Arkansas. Jodi Krymuza (Dave), Elkhorn, Nebraska. Matt Schlegel (Tricia), Oakland, Iowa. Nicole Blunt (Jason), Fort Collins, Colorado. Sarah Bennett (Nick Voorhees) Omaha, Nebraska. Joe Bennett (Jessie), Kearney, Nebraska. Jaime Wacker and Johnny Wacker (Emma), Columbia, Missouri. great-grandchildren, Preston, Loni and Eddie Wacker; Memphis Crimza; Regan and Letty Cravens; John Henry, Ella, Evie Wacker. Laurel Mayo Dawson (Clint), Ashley, Sam, Jake Mayo. Tyler and Carson Burks. Kyle, Mason, Skyler Schlegel. LT, Kieran, Kinley Pearson. Charlie Blunt; Annabelle and Bria Voorhees; Henry and Molly Bennett. Great-grandson, Wade Dawson. Nephews, JD Bobinmeyer (Donna), Chuck Bobinmeyer (Robin), Bob Roussel (Terry), Kevin Roussel (Karma), Grant Strunk, Mark Wacker (Monica), Chris Wacker (Jane). Niece, Terry Duncan (Larry), Mary Jo Bobinmeyer, Joyce Rich (Jim), Patsy Malinzer (Phil Timm), Vicki Barkley (James), Debbie Spencer (Rod), Faith Hyde (Doug), Julie Strunk, Barbara Hoff (Larry), Christina Wacker, Hazel Bobbinmeyer, Patti Strunk, Sue Wacker. And many, many, many great nephews and nieces.
Throughout her life, she was called Doris, Doris Jean, Sith, Genie, Mama, Aunt Jeanie, Grandma and Granny by those who loved her. She lived a full life with her positive attitude, kind heart and friendly smile.
Cremation was chosen. An event celebrating the life of Doris and Freddy his Wacker will be held later this year in Culbertson, Nebraska.
Memorial donations may be made to the Circle of Life Hospice, Earlene Howard Hospice Home, 901 Jones Road Springdale, AR 72762.
