Emma (Funk) Stricker, 94, of Gering, died Friday, October 22, 2021, at Heritage Estates in Gering. Her funeral service will be held at 10am on Thursday, October 28, 2021, at Zion Evangelical Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Andy Griess officiating. Services will be livestreamed on Bridgman Funeral Home Facebook page. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5-7pm at Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff. The family respectfully requests that memorials in Emma’s honor be made in care of the church. Online condolences may be made by viewing Emma’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com.
Emma (Funk) Stricker was born to Jacob and Mary Funk in Bayard on November 13, 1926. Emma was the youngest of nine children. After the loss of her mother at a young age Emma became a daddy’s girl, to be sure. Growing up at her dad’s side she learned the ins and outs of farm life, the hard work required, how to be tough as nails, and gentle love of animals. Emma’s horse Baldy was integral during her childhood, and the stories of her love for him are well known to her family. Emma was proud of her German-Russian heritage, once punching a boy for calling her a derogatory name.
On February 10, 1952, Emma was united in marriage with Harvey Stricker. Together they made a life for themselves in Gering Valley until 1955 when they moved north of Bayard to farm with the family. Side by side, Harvey, and Emma worked the land into a beautiful, fruitful farm, still worked by their children and grandchildren today. To their union two children were born, Harvey Jr. (Joe) and Colleen. Emma was strict, but an ardently loyal mother, she raised Joe & Colleen with standards and rules but would be the first to be at their defense.
Emma spent her life dedicated to the family farm and to raising her children and grandchildren. Her bottle calves were at the top of her priorities, taking pride in teaching each of her granddaughters the art of feeding a baby calf. She was an artist when it came to windrowing hay and raising chickens. Emma was a lifetime member of Zion Evangelical Church and a member of the Ladies Guild, helping to honor church members through her love of cooking.
Emma’s granddaughters were the joy of her life, never disappointed in their achievements. Emma took the time to perm their hair, to teach the girls about their heritage, and how to cook the best of the best. From goulash to noodles to pierogies, her girls will never forget those recipes they learned at her side.
Her later years were spent at Heritage Estates, where she made many, many beloved friends, residents, and staff alike. Pain and sadness aside, Emma could always bring a smile to those around her, she was an image of joy. Even as the years passed on, Emma strictly adhered to tradition, insisting that flowers be delivered to our ancestors each year on Memorial Day, followed by a family dinner at Pizza Hut.
Emma is survived by her children, Joe (Dee) Stricker and Colleen (Dave) Dietrich, grandchildren Valerie (Ryan) Kimball, Ashley (Jake) Robbins, Amanda Stricker, Katlyn (Ryan) Coffey, Aimee Stricker, and Kristyn (David) Safford, and great-grandchildren Emma and Cash Robbins and Amora Safford and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Emma was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harvey, her parents, siblings, Jacob Funk, Carl Funk, Henry Funk, Christ Funk, Lydia Smith, and Marie Reuter, as well as two siblings that passed in childhood. Emma was certainly greeted at heaven’s gates by her faithful companion Tater at Harvey’s side.