January 6, 1860 - March 2, 1962

Funeral services were conducted March 6 for Mrs. Anna "Grandma" Ortmann, who was one of the oldest residents in this area. Rev. W. E. Homann officiated at the rites at St. Paul's Lutheran church. The church choir sang.

Pallbearers were Albert Beineke, Paul Elsasser, Arnold Beckman, Perry Meyer, and Herbert Ronnenkamp, all of Bancroft and Walter Munderloh, Wisner. Burial was in the Bancroft cemetery.

Anna Dorothea Ortmann, daughter of Florentz Gottlieb Blome and his wife, Martha, was born at New Bielefield, St. Louis County, Mo. Jan 6, 1860. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church at that place. She was married to George E. Ortmann Oct. 13, 1876. The couple had seven children, five of whom died in infancy and their two sons also preceded the couple in death, Robert in 1922 and George in 1926.

A year after the couple's marriage they moved to a farm near West Point, making the trip by wagon. They lived there one year and moved to Fontenelle, Nebr., where they farmed seven years. Their next home was on a farm they purchased southwest of Pender. There they lived until 1906 when they moved to a farm on the southwest outskirts of Bancroft. In 1920 they retired to their home in Bancroft. Her husband proceeded her in death Dec. 28. 1931.

Mrs. Ortmann was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church. For many years she had as her hobby piecing quilts and quilting. She was one of the early members of the "Quilters" who later formed St. Paul's Sewing Circle. She continued sewing and quilting until she was 93, when she fell at her home and broke her hip. And failing eyesight forced her to discontinue the work she loved.

She lived in her home in Bancroft until May 1953, when she suffered her injury and was hospitalized five months, but returned to her home for a time. In August 1955 she entered the Beemer Rest Home where she died March 2.

She is survived by a half-brother, Frank Lineman, Hartington; her two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Clara Mehling, Bancroft and Mrs. Hannah Zobel, West Point; three grandchildren, Mrs. John Maas and Arthur Ortmann, Bancroft, and Alvin Ortmann, Pender; seven great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Those from out of town who attended the services were Mrs. Marha Weitkamp and Mrs. Ellen Blome of Fremont and Mrs. C. W. Plagemann of Omaha.