Arthur "Art" A. Nilges

Arthur A. Nilges, 86, of Pender, Nebraska died on Monday, September 20, 2010 at the Pender Community Hospital in Pender. A funeral for Art will be held on Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church; Pastor Glenn Schacht will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Munderloh Funeral Home in Pender. Burial will be in the Rosehill Cemetery near Pender. Art was born on April 23, 1924, on a farm southeast of Pender in Cumming County, the son of Jacob and Mary (Prinz) Nilges. He attended rural schools and Pender High School. Art served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946, with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy. On June 8, 1951, Art was united in marriage to LaVonne Hegwer at a ceremony in Pender. He worked at Heese Produce for more than 50 years. He first worked for Fred Heese and Later Don Darling. Art then became the manager in 1965, and served in the capacity for many years continuing until Scott and Katie Darling became the new owners. Art retired in 2000, but continued to work their part time. Art will be remembered by many for his work ethic, and his sense of humor. He enjoyed injecting a little nonsense into some otherwise ordinary situations. Having worked with farmers and the farming community all his life, he could always give you the price of corn, wheat or livestock. He enjoyed the time he spent a PoPo’s visiting with his many friends. Art was a member of the VFW, the American Legion, and was a past member of the Pender Volunteer Fire Department. Art is survived by his wife LaVonne, a son Doug Nilges of Pender, grandchildren: Travis Nilges of Pender, Jeff Nilges of Blair, Nebraska, and Brenda Stewart of Omaha, and their families. He is also survived by eight great grandchildren, a brother LeRoy and wife Carmen Nilges of Jefferson, South Dakota, and a sister MaryAnn VonSeggern of Wisner, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Art is preceded in death by his parents, his son Lonnie and a granddaughter Tracie Nelson. He was also preceded in death by a brother Lawrence and three sisters: Bernadine Zvacek, Angeline Henning and Marcella Claussen.