Charles D. Bierma

Charles D. Bierma

Dec 31, 1929 – Jan 5, 2018

Preceded in death by son, Jeffrey D. Bierma; granddaughter, Jill L. Bierma.  Survived by wife of 67 years, Mary (Schimonitz) Bierma; children: Nancy Meyer (Tim), Clark Bierma (Denise), Fred Bierma (Denise), Susie Tapia (Paul) and Wendell Bierma; ten grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; brother, Gayle Bierma; sister, Erma Jean Young.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 10^th from 5pm to 7pm at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 8200 N. 30^th St., followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm at the church.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL on Thursday, January 11^th at 10:30am at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. Interment on Friday, January 12^th at 1pm at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, NE.

Memorials may be directed to the family for the charity of their choice or to Masses.

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Charles Dale “Charlie” Bierma was one of twelve children born to Dick D. and Nellie V. (Myers) Bierma on December 31, 1929 in Grant, Nebraska.  His family farmed in Grant and Madrid, Nebraska, before moving to Sutherland, Nebraska when Charlie was 11 years old.  Charlie attended school in Sutherland and, while a young man, worked at the grain elevators in Sutherland and Paxton, Nebraska.  He was also a member of the Sutherland Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.

Charlie married the love of his life, Martha Mary Schimonitz, on December 26, 1950.  Soon after the wedding bells rang, Charlie was drafted by the United States Army to serve his country in the Korean War from 1951 through 1953.  When Charlie returned from Korea, he resumed working at the grain elevator in Sutherland.  In 1956 he and Mary moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where Charlie began a thirty-year career with the U.S. Postal Service.  Charlie also worked part-time at Andresen Apple Orchard, Ak-Sar-Ben and Bierma Siding.

Charlie and Mary were blessed with six children: Nancy, Jeff, Clark, Fred, Susie, and Wendell; eleven grandchildren: Jill, Jaime, Jackie, Jenna, Sean, Erika, Alexis, Noah, Rachel, Hannah, and Nathan; ten great-grandchildren: Morgan, Blake, Bryce, Mallory, Kenzie, Brendan, Jayden, Emma, Elis, and Austyn.  Charlie enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling, attending the grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s school programs, sporting events, and their music programs.

Some of Charlie’s most memorable trips were going out to western Nebraska to hunt pheasants with his brother and brothers-in-law and fishing at the Sutherland Reservoir and Lake McConaughy.  Other trips included visiting family in Michigan, Wisconsin, California, Florida, Arizona, and Washington, attending a wedding in Hawaii, and sight-seeing in Washington, D.C.  Charlie’s most memorable trip was celebrating his and Mary’s 50^th wedding anniversary on an Alaskan cruise.

Charlie’s favorite things were helping with the wheat harvest on Mary’s family farm and attending the annual family reunions at Lake McConaughy.  He and Mary also enjoyed dancing, and he could often be heard singing or whistling along to songs on the radio.  He was an avid sports fan, often watching sports on TV, especially the Huskers.  A member of the American Legion and VFW, Charlie was also a lifetime member of St. Philip Neri Church.

Charlie was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.