Funeral services for Doreen Semroska of Harrison, NE will be at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Harrison, NE. Cookies and Coffee will follow at VFW Club in Harrison, NE.
A memorial has been established for the Harrison Rescue Unit and Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Doreen’s work here on earth is done. She received a call from her Lord and Savior on Monday, December 31, 2018. Doreen was born to the late Albert E. and Dora L. Bunge on February 11, 1932 at the ranch east of Harrison, NE.
As a longtime resident of Sioux County, Doreen lived her whole life there in the beauty of the Pine Ridge area. She attended school in Sioux County, and after graduating, taught country school at Bodarc for a few years until she married Charles Lou Smith on September 29, 1950. To this union, two boys were born: Alan Dean and Jay Dee. They lived and worked on the Virgil Kennedy ranch northwest of Harrison until the place was sold in 1972. Chuck passed away in 1986. Doreen married Raymond Semroska on September 17, 1988, where they made their home north of Harrison for the next 25 years until they moved to Harrison.
Doreen’s passion and delight included the area in which she lived. She grew up spending her time with her brother (Dean) riding horses through the canyons on the home place. Doreen had a love for knowledge and reading (even the fine print) and doing crossword puzzles. You could always see a quick daily journal of what was happening on the ranch. Many times an argument was settled by her journal (When did we turn out the bulls was often won by her journal notes). She loved to host Christmas Eve at her home with her family and hated when she no longer had the strength to entertain everyone. No one ever left hungry at any family gatherings if Doreen did the cooking. She enjoyed gardening, canning, and loved to look at and smell the flowers. Many summers were spent on her hands and knees pulling weeds by hand. She often said she would just as soon be pulling weeds than cleaning house.
She was an active member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid in Harrison. She loved teaching Sunday School classes and working with children. Her love for Sioux County and ranching showed when she wanted Harrison to adopt “The Beef Friendly County” slogan for Nebraska. She did the legwork and paperwork needed for this. Even though this did not work out for her, the passion she had for both were ingrained within her.
She leaves husband Raymond of 30 years; stepdaughters Charmaine (Craig) Uhrig and Dana Semroska; stepsons Todd (Sharon) Semroska, Curt Semroska, Dal Semroska, and Calvin Semroska.; sons Alan (Letticia) Smith and Jay Dee (Kathy) Smith; five grandchildren; 12 stepgrandchildren; six great-grandchildren and 25 stepgreat-grandchildren.
Doreen was preceded in death by her parents; first husband Chuck; brother Dean Bunge; sister-in-law Hazel Bunge; stepson Clay; stepgranddaughter Steffe Evans; and great-granddaughter AnDee Smith.
