Wilma Louise Simpson, 98, of Burwell, Nebraska died December 23, 2019 at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 28, 2019 at the United Methodist Church in Burwell. Burial will be in Cottonwood Cemetery in Burwell. Pastor Dennis Davenport will officiate. Visitation will be Friday from 5 -7 p.m. at Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell. Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church.
Wilma was born July 12, 1921 in Grand Island, Nebraska to Detlef and Louis (Osterhold) Lilienthal. She moved with her parents to Burwell at the age of four years; where, she grew up and attended rural schools.
On March 31, 1941 Wilma married Henry “Jack” Simpson in Neligh, Nebraska. They lived in Ericson and Burwell. Wilma was the head cook at the Burwell Jr. Sr. High School for 32 years. Wilma and Jack owned a restaurant in Burwell for a few years.
Wilma was an active member of the United Methodist church and the UMW.
Wilma is survived by four children; Dennis and Karen Simpson of Corning, California, Jack and Sue Simpson of Burwell, Nebraska, Larry and Frances Simpson of Burwell, Nebraska and Vicki and Bob Dorsey of Burwell, Nebraska. Six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers; Bill, Ed, Shorty and Al Lilienthal and two sisters, Rosie Lacy and Lena Fitzgerald.
