Eleanor F. (Hartmann) Schipporeit was born at home on March 2, 1930 near Corunna, IN to Hilda A. (Ziebell) and Walter H. Hartmann. Because her father was a Lutheran pastor, Eleanor’s family lived in a number of different towns in Indiana and Illinois during her school years. When World War II broke out, Eleanor’s father joined the United States Army and served as a chaplain. During this time the family moved again, ending up in Fort Wayne, IN, where Eleanor graduated from high school in 1947. Shortly after that, Eleanor moved with her family to Ainsworth, NE, where her father had
accepted a call to Zion Lutheran Church. Here Eleanor met Ralph Schipporeit, and on August 20, 1950, they were united in marriage. Ralph and Eleanor raised four children. Over her lifetime, Eleanor worked in the Ainsworth Bakery, was a farm wife and mother, sang in the Zion Lutheran Church Choir, served in various ways as part of the Ladies Aid and LWML at the church, worked as a school cook at Ainsworth Community Schools, volunteered at the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop, and greatly enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Eleanor passed away January 8, 2023 at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth at the age of 92 years, ten months and six days. She was preceded in death by her spouse, parents, brothers, Harold and Norman and their spouses, two sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law.
She is survived by her children, Jeanette Schipporeit of Norfolk, NE, David Schipporeit and wife, Patricia of Norfolk, Lance Schipporeit and wife, Vicki of Ainsworth, and Julie Smith and husband, Rick of Kearney, NE; three grandchildren, Bobbi Singer and husband, David of Elkhorn, NE, Sean Schipporeit and wife, Amy and Dana Fontaine and husband, Mike all of Omaha, NE; six great-grandchildren; a brother, Dale Hartmann, of Orange, CA, along with numerous other family members and friends.
Funeral Services were held on Friday, January 13, 2022 in the Zion Lutheran Church at Ainsworth with Pastor Lynn Christensen as the officiant. Music was provided by Betty Bower with the congregation singing, “Jerusalem, My Happy Home,” “The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want” and “Abide With Me”. Casket Bearers were: David Singer, Blake Singer, Brady Singer, Sean Schipporeit, Rick Smith and Mike Fontaine. Honorary Casket Bearers were: All of Eleanor’s Other Family and Friends. Interment was in the Lutheran Cemetery northwest of Ainsworth. Memorials were suggested to the Zion Lutheran Church in Eleanor’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at
www.hochfuneralhome.com
.