Marjorie Jean (Upton) Gottula, 103, died April 23 while in hospice at Dunklau Gardens following a brief illness. She was born October 19, 1922, to John and Alice (Robb) Upton on the family farm near Adams. She grew up during the Great Depression with four brothers and one sister. She attended country school and Adams High School, graduating with the class of 1939. (She was the last surviving member of that class.) After graduation, at the age of 16, Marjorie began her teaching career in a one-room rural school, teaching grades 1-8.
On September 27, 1943, she married Omar L. Gottula while he was on a three-day pass from the Navy. Omar left for Honolulu, Hawaii, the day after their wedding to help break Japanese code, spending the first two years of their marriage in Hawaii. While he was gone Marjorie continued to teach, teaching a total of six years. They enjoyed 62 wonderful years together before Omar’s death on November 14, 2004.
In the spring of 1947 they moved to Fremont where Marjorie lived for the next 79 years, and where Marjorie and Omar raised three daughters. They joined First United Methodist Church, Omar joined the Masons, and she joined Eastern Star, and both became involved in various other community organizations. For several years after the children were born, she was busy as a homemaker, sewing for her girls and canning many fruits and vegetables enjoyed by the family during the long winters.
As her daughters grew, Marjorie became a substitute teacher for Fremont Public Schools, then a secretary at Lincoln Elementary School, and finally a bookkeeper/receptionist for 23 years for Dr. William J. Chleborad. Retiring at 62, she and Omar traveled to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, many states in the U.S., and spent many winters as “Winter Texans” in Brownsville, Texas.
In 2018, Marjorie moved from her Fremont condo to an independent apartment at Nye Square. She is survived by daughters Dyann Adele Taylor (Walter), of Columbus, Ohio; Jacque Jean Burroughs (Timothy), of Lakewood, Colorado; Gail Jean Buethe (Doug), of Roundrock, Texas; adoring grandchildren Marnie Burroughs (Jeff Drobny), of Frederick, Colorado; Frederick (Rick) Taylor (Camille), of New Albany, Ohio; T.J. Burroughs (Kara), of Parker, Colorado; Erin Moody (Lamar), of Corpus Christi, Texas; Jennifer Flynn (James), of Los Angeles, California; Douglas Buethe (Ji) of Towson, Maryland; and Evan Buethe of Round Rock, Texas. She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren: Hailey Moody, Amelie Taylor, Taylor Moody, Lindy Taylor, Wilder Flynn, Caleb Moody, Evelyn Burroughs, Finn Moody, Sophia Buethe, and Fiona Flynn. Additionally, Marjorie is survived by many nieces and nephews and special “daughter” Mary Ellen Wilde of Duluth, Minnesota.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her parents-in-law Carl and Lola Gottula, brothers Arnold (Dora) Upton, Hubert (Virginia) Upton, John (Dorothy) Upton, Wilbur (Rosemary) Upton, and sister Dixie (Eugene) Ege. Also predeceasing her were Orville (Fern) Gottula, Clarence (Ruth) Gottula, Elmer (Mary) Gottula, Melvin (Hilda) Gottula, Robert (Daisy) Gottula, Isabelle (Fred) Block, and Donnabelle (Ernest) Goss.
Marjorie’s funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 11 at First United Methodist Church, 815 N. Broad St. in Fremont with visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. and lunch following. Interment will take place at 2:30 p.m. at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, 6700 S. 14th St in Lincoln.
The family extends special thanks to the staff at Nye Square, who gave such special attention to Marjorie in her final years, as well as the doctors, nurses, and aides at Methodist Fremont Health, Dunklau Gardens, and Methodist Fremont Health Hospice for their loving care in her final days.
Memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church or Masonic-Eastern Star Home for Children, 2415 N. Main St., Fremont, NE 68025. Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com