Mary K. Albrecht

Click here to view the memorial video.   Mary K. Albrecht, 57, of Emerson, Nebraska died on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa from complications with lymphoma and multiple sclerosis. Funeral services for Mary will be held on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Emerson, with Pastor Gretchen Ritola officiating. The visitation will be held on Sunday from 3:00 until 8:00 P.M. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. There will be a prayer service held on Sunday evening at 7:00, also at the church. Mary will be laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery in Emerson. Mary was born on August 10, 1950 in Abilene, Kansas, and was the first of six children born to Arthur and Doris (Hosie) Schumann. She lived her early years on the family farm near Abilene and later moved to Manhattan, Kansas, where she graduated high school in 1968. While at Kansas State University, in Manhattan, Kansas, she met Michael Albrecht of Thurston, Nebraska. They were married August 25, 1973 at the First Baptist Church in Manhattan, Kansas. They lived the rest of their happily married lives together on a farm in rural Thurston County in Nebraska. She was very active at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Emerson, Nebraska where she participated in the choir, was choir director, taught Sunday School and served on the Church Council. In the community Mary was involved in Happy Hour Extension Club, the Education Endowment Committee at the Emerson-Hubbard School and taught preschool and Summer Education Adventure classes. Mike and Mary were blessed with 34 years of marriage, four children, and a loving, extended family and community. She was a devoted wife and mother. Mary used her passion for teaching as she taught special-education students at Emerson-Hubbard High School. She was a woman of devotion and patience towards her students. Even when disease made life difficult, she put helping her students above her own health concerns. Mary is remembered as a woman of integrity and for her deep faith. Her compassion is remembered as is her polite and graceful personality. She was a selfless person and always worried about others, never about herself. Her wit and creative quirks made life with her fun. She also enjoyed reading, singing, playing piano, gardening and making crafts. Until the last, multiple sclerosis and cancer never held her back from enjoying life. Mary is survived by her husband Michael of Thurston, Nebraska, their four children Greg and wife Michele of Lawrence, Kansas, Laura and husband Layne Fischer of Scribner, Nebraska, Scott of Thurston, and Andrea of Sioux City, Iowa; parents Arthur and Doris (Hosie) Schumann of Manhattan, Kansas; and parents-in-law Walter and Violet (Gutzmann) Albrecht of Thurston, Nebraska. Other survivors include her siblings Paul and Cynthia Schumann of Denver, Colorado, David and Barb Schumann of Athens, Georgia, Tracy and Stephanie Schumann of Findlay, Ohio, Ann and Corby Goodman of Humble, Texas, Sharon and Jeff Struve of Olathe, Kansas, and numerous nieces and nephews.