Vesta Thalacker

V esta T halacker, age 94, formerly of North Platte, passed away at The Legacy Retirement Community in Lincoln on Sunday, May 29, 2022.

Vesta, the daughter of Laportie and Lillie Bucklew, was born at home in Hanover Twsp., PA, on December 8, 1927. She grew up on a farm and attended a one room country school. When Vesta was 16 her dad went into the ministry and moved the family to Chicago so he could attend divinity school but Vesta stayed behind in Pennsylvania to finish high school. She graduated from Annville High School in 1944 at the age of 16, then the following day, she boarded a train by herself and joined the family in Chicago. She worked for Sears and attended the Illinois College of Commerce and Manchester College in North Manchester, IN.

After her dad graduated from divinity school the family moved to Wisconsin where he had his first pastorate. Vesta got a job at National Pressure Cooker in the Martin Outboard Motor Division in Eau Claire, WI, and this is where she met Roger Thalacker. They married on July 3, 1948, and were blessed with three children, Joanne, Lynette and Brenda.

The Thalackers eventually moved to Maxwell, IA, where Roger worked for Montgomery Wards in Des Moines. Vesta worked at home, typing and addressing envelopes for Boys Town. In 1962 Roger was transferred to North Platte with Montgomery Wards. Vesta worked for Nash Finch typing grocery orders then went to work in Medical Records at St. Mary's Hospital. She continued her career at Memorial Hospital in the Pathology Dept. as a Medical Transcriptionist, and eventually for Great Plains Health. Vesta received the Transcriptionist of the Year Award in 1988. After unsuccessfully trying to retire twice, she finally retired at the age of 84 in 2011 after working 48 years.

Her hobbies included camping, fishing, reading, knitting, singing and Bible Study.

Vesta accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord when she was eight and Baptized in the river on Easter Sunday. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in North Platte for nearly 60 years. Living her life for Jesus was very important to her and she left a rich legacy of faith for her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger, and daughter, Joanne Jurjens; parents, Laportie and Lillie; her brothers, Rolland, Glen and Paul Bucklew; and sister, Francis Mikesell.

Vesta leaves behind her children, Lynette and husband, Glen Waltemath of Lincoln and Brenda and husband, Dale Oberg of Farnam, and son-in-law, Larry Jurjens of Farnam; grandchildren, David and wife, Raquel Jurjens, Lisa Jurjens, Cory and wife, Diane Waltemath, Kevin and wife, Carrie Waltemath, April and husband, Grant McCloskey, and Heath and wife, Sara Oberg; 15 great-grandchildren, Michaela Jurjens, Noah Jurjens, Abby Jurjens, Levi Jurjens, Kendra Bihlmaier, Ethan Jurjens, Rayden Bihlmaier, Drea Waltemath, Oakley Waltemath, Ellis Waltemath, Taylor McCloskey, Kenna McCloskey, Avery Oberg, Madelyn Oberg and Lucille Oberg; 5 great great-grandchildren, Addalynn Widick and Brenley, Chloie, Riley and Teegan Sutton; and other family.

Services will be 10 a.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022, at First Baptist Church with Pastor Clint Walker and Grant McCloskey officiating. Celebration of Vesta's life will conclude with burial in Fort McPherson National Cemetery at 1 p.m. Visitation is prior to services at the church. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Memorials can be made to the family or First Baptist Church, 100 McDonald Rd, North Platte, NE, 69101.