Erma Jean (Vahle) Nyland, daughter of George & Gertrude (Russell) Vahle, passed away at the Logan Manor in Logan, Kansas on June 7, 2019, at the age of 93.
She was born in Harlan County, Nebraska on November 27, 1925. Her education began in country school District 53 where she spent her first year, then 2nd – 8th grade in District 26. Her freshman year of high school was in Long Island, KS and she completed her sophomore – senior years in Orleans, NE, graduating with the class of 1943. Jean attended teacher’s college in Kearney, NE and earned her degree through correspondence so she could begin teaching. At 17 years old she taught 21 kids, 1st – 8th grade, in Harlan County, NE, country school District 26, for two years and then taught in District 60 for two more years.
Jean worked her way through high school and college for room and board. During high school she lived with Daisy Peterson, working at her care facility where she helped with the patients and also helped deliver babies. Throughout her life she had various jobs in addition to teaching: three years as a nurse’s aide, five years at Valley Hope, sixteen years at Van Diest Wholesale, thirteen years at the Prairie View Community Center and ten years as Prairie View’s City Clerk. She enjoyed each and every job and all of the many friends she made throughout her working years.
On October 31, 1947, Jean married the love of her life, John Nyland of Prairie View, KS. The couple spent a short time in Topeka, KS before moving back to Prairie View. Later on they purchased the family farm and lived there until Jean moved into town in 2002.
In 1948 Jean was baptized and became a member of the Prairie View Reformed Church. She taught Sunday school, bible class, and Gleaners for church. She also volunteered her time and skills with the Lone Prairie 4-H Club for several years, teaching knitting, crocheting and sewing.
Although Jean & John had no biological children, their nieces & nephews were their family. Every summer the kids took turns spending a week with them; their home was always open to everybody. Sharing stories and spending time with her brothers and sisters, their kids and extended families was the most important thing in the world to Jean.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; brothers: George, Jr., Darrell & wife, Barbara, and Donald Dean; and sister, Joanne Fruehling & husband, Lloyd; brother-in-law, Virgil Anderson; and nieces & nephews: Jonah Kay Vahle, Maranda Lynn Kester, Trevor James Vahle, Sandra Jean Fruehling, and Zoee Lynn Sproul.
Survivors include her sister, Marilyn Anderson of Kearney, NE; sisters-in-law, Beulah Vahle of Long Island, KS and Janice Vahle of Phillipsburg, KS; many nieces & nephews, great and great-great nieces & nephews, along with many friends.
Funeral services will be held Wed. June 12 at 2:00 p.m. in the Prairie View Reformed Church with Pastor Lew VanDerWege officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie View Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 Monday & 9:00 to 9:00 Tuesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 7:00 Tuesday evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church or the Prairie View Community Center.