Maureen Bindewald

Maureen Bindewald passed away at the age of 76 on January 3, 2018, in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.  She was born on August 6, 1941, in Broken Bow to Martin Sylvester and Mildred (Roth) McDuffee.  She attended Broken Bow Public Schools, graduating in 1959.  Thereafter, she attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, earning a teaching certificate in elementary education.  She married her high school sweetheart and best friend, Frederick Bindewald, on December 23, 1961.  After marriage they resided on Fred’s family homestead for the entirety of their marriage and for the rest of her life.  She taught elementary grades for approximately two years at Merna Public Schools.  After teaching she prided herself on being Fred’s go-to person on the farm (“962 Maureen.  Over!!!”). She is survived by and will be missed greatly by her four daughters, Kelli (Mark) Downey of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Kristi (Stephen) Twiss of Central City, Nebraska; Kimberli (Robert) Dawson of Longwood, Florida; and Kamila (Christopher) Buttler of North Platte, Nebraska.  In addition to being a devoted wife and the best mother to her four daughters, she was a proud and loving “Grammie” to her ten surviving grandchildren, Trevor (Mary), Troy, Taylor, Morgan, Jake, Lauryn, Kate, Karsyn, Graesyn, and Griffin.  Also, she was thrilled when her first great grandchild arrived, Adalyn, and was thereafter known as Momo.  Finally, Maureen is survived by two sisters, Joanne Johnson of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Pat Bridges of Mullen, Nebraska, and by numerous other relatives, friends, and neighbors.  She was predeceased by her husband and by her sister, Jeanne Barrett. As a former educator and a proud supporter of the 4-H program and the leader of her own club, the Bluebells, Maureen taught her daughters and her grandchildren several life skills and life lessons.  She was the best bread baker (with some preferring to sneak the raw dough), best beef and noodle maker, best homemade pancake maker (with the record being twenty pancakes consumed by one grandchild), seamstress (with only a few of her grandchildren’s fingers being ran through the sewing machine), crafter (with glitter from grandchildren projects still found in the nooks and crannies of her farmhouse), supporter of her grandchildren’s various activities, scrapbooker to document the many memories made with her family, and overall sharer of family stories and history.  She enjoyed traveling with Fred and her family, her four daughters later in life (until they got a little too crazy for her liking), and cruising with her grandchildren.  She loved being a mentor in the Teammates Mentoring Program, an active member of her church and Lutheran Ladies, consummate hostess of many family and friend get-togethers at her farmhouse, planner of high school class reunions, an active Red Hatter, and overall doer of life.  Her love and laughter could fill a room, with her faith and family being her everything.  Her grit, selfless way, and cheerful demeanor will never be forgotten by those blessed enough to have spent time with her. Memorial services will be held on Saturday January 6, 2018 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Broken Bow with Rev. Thomas Schneider officiating.  Inurnment will be in the Merna Cemetery.  Govier Brothers Mortuary of Broken Bow is assisting the family.  Memorials are suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.  www.govierbrothers.com for online condolences.