Barbara J. ‘Vi’ Haecke, 96, of Fremont died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. at Methodist Fremont Health.
Vi was born July 21, 1927, in Craig to Harry and Aline ‘Wellhausen’ Geschke. She was raised on a farm near Craig and graduated from Tekamah High School. She married Leonard Haecke on March 29, 1947, in Tekamah. The couple lived in Omaha, Bellevue, Springfield, where they owned and operated a bar before moving to Arlington to operate another bar. In 1976 the couple opened Haecke’s Schwinn Cyclery bicycle shop in Fremont and moved to Fremont in 1979. After they closed the bike shop, Vi worked as a demo person at Walmart. After retiring again she became a volunteer at what is now Methodist Fremont Health escorting patients and working in the ‘Look Nook’.
Vi was a member of Sinai Lutheran Church and was currently the oldest member of the congregation.
Survivors:
Daughter – Cheryl Haecke of Fremont
Son – Kirk (Rose) Haecke of Fremont
Grandchildren – Phillip Bauer, Adam Haecke, Eric Haecke, Evan Christensen, Alyssa Waegli
Nine great-grandchildren
Five great-great grandchildren
Sisters – Lyla Ruud of Fremont
Donna Lee Andrews of Olathe, Kansas
Vi was preceded in death by her husband Leonard in 1993, daughter Vicki Haecke and sister Genevieve Romans.
The funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Sinai Lutheran Church. The Rev. Al Duminy will officiate. Burial will follow in Memorial Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the church. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Friday with the family present from 6 to 8 at the Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel in Fremont.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
