Ila J. Esch
Ila J. Esch, 86 of Homer, Nebraska died Friday, November 11, 2016 at a care facility in South Sioux City. Funeral Services will be held 10:30 am Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Homer, Nebraska. Burial will be in Omaha Valley Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday 5-8 pm with a Prayer Service at 7 pm at Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux City. Ila Surber Esch was born near Emerson, Nebraska on November 19, 1929, to Anna Heckens Surber and Eli Roy Surber. She grew up in or near Emerson, except for three years when her parents farmed near Thurston, Nebraska. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Emerson and graduated from Emerson High School. After graduation, she taught rural school near Emerson for two years. She was united in marriage to George F. Heck on October 1, 1949, at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Emerson, Nebraska. Four children were born to this union. George was killed in a heavy equipment accident in Woodbury County near Sioux City, Iowa, on October 2, 1963. She was married to Donald C. Esch on June 21, 1967, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Homer. In April, 1965, she began work as the first school secretar...[more]View Full Online Obituary and Tributes
n the new Homer Community School, a position she held for 27 years, retiring in 1992. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, WELCA, and HPD Club. She enjoyed traveling, handwork, and spending time with her family and friends. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were a very important part of her life, and she loved attending all their many activities. Survivors include her husband, Don; one son, Dave and Mary Heck; two daughters, Janelle and Dave Lamb, and Jody and Bill Rohde; eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Ruth Suhr; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Anna; first husband, George; an infant daughter, Cynthia, at birth; four brothers, Ervin, Howard, Ray and Merle; and two sisters, Leona Suhr and Blanche Jensen.
