WORTH REMEMBERING
zelma & evert storbeck
Zelma & Evert, Photo 10759, shared by Paula Storbeck in 2021
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Just a couple of old people, some stranger in town might have thought. Two old people living in an old white house in a little Nebraska town. Nothing special.....
Those folks were Zelma and Evert Storbeck. They weren't in politics, they didn't set any records in sports in their younger years, they didn't make a lot of money or give a lot of money to charity. They weren't special in the ways of some. But they were indeed, special, and they are worth remembering. Make them a place holder for many an old couple living in an old white frame house in a little town. Evert Rudolph Storbeck was born in Germany in 1896 as Ewald Storbeck, the youngest of five children. In 1901, he boarded the S.S. Frankfurt with his parents, Ludvig and Henriette Storbeck, and his three sisters, and sailed for America. The sisters were teenagers, Augusta (“Gustie”) who married Karl (“Charlie”) Boeck, Emma (who married Joe Morton), and Ida who married a Venhuizen and moved to South Dakota. The oldest sibling, Rudolf was not on the passenger list; Evert & Zelma’s son Ed thinks Rudolf died at 21. Ewald became Evert. He registered for the World War I draft as Evert; he probably served in the military because he was naturalized then, too. His registration card describes him as short, slim, brown eyes, dark brown hair. Zelma Marie Leach was born in Gage County almost a decade after young Evert set foot on Nebraska soil. Her parents, Range and Lena Leach, had a large family and they moved back and forth between the Table Rock area and Gage County, with children born both places. Zelma’s father died in 1929, leaving her mother with 6 children at home. Within the year, the mother was living in rural Table Rock. We don’t know why Table Rock, but there were Leaches living in Clear Creek precinct who may have been family. In any event, Zelma’s family became neighbors to Evert’s sisters Gustie and Emma, each of whom had married and had their own families by then. Evert probably spent much time with his sisters, because they raised him. Their parents had gone back to Germany! The sisters were married women by the time their parents left and stayed. Evert did, too. How did Evert and Zelma meet? Their son Ed doesn’t know, and now we can’t ask. They probably came to know each other as neighbors. How long was the courtship of Evert and Zelma? We don't know. But we do know that on July 6, 1932, they were married. By that time, Evert was 34 and Zelma 22. Evert and Zelma each lived to about the same age, 91. He died in 1987, she in 2002. In between, there was sadness and happiness. A little tombstone next to theirs in the Table Rock Cemetery speaks of some heart ache in that marriage. "Babies of Mr. & Mrs. Storbeck" is all it says. Two little children lie there. One was a stillborn baby, a girl born probably about 1934. The other was a little boy who passed away soon after he was born in 1936. Storbecks had been married four years. In 1938, a son, Edwin Dale, was born. Such joy that little baby (now 82 years old) must have brought. Ed lives in the state of Oregon. It's a ways away for someone who graduated from Table Rock in 1957 but he seems to like it there. Evert and Zelma’s son Ed eventually brought something new to the Evert & Zelma's life: a daughter-in-law, Joyce Trimmer, and four grandchildren! There were Eddie, Gerald (who goes by Gerry), Linda, and Susan. (Ed later remarried in 1997, to Donna Bryant.) What we remember What is there to remember of Evert & Zelma? Sarah Alderman remembers simply, “They were wonderful people.” Linda Moran remembers the Storbecks fondly. Her grandmother, Virginia Ribble, lived across the street and one house east of the Storbecks. "I spent time at their house since they lived so close. They were first in the neighborhood to get a tv!" She also remembers their son Ed walking her home from school one day after she was hit in the face with a swing; she had two black eyes from the swing. Something about Evert Ronnie Gilbert graduated with Evert and Zelma’s son Ed and knew the family. Ronnie says that he remembered Evert working for Rudy Karas at the Ford garage. Ronnie remembers him as “a short, small man who walked kind of slumped over. He was a very quiet person. He was a great mechanic. In that day, in that era, he was probably as good as they came.” According to Ed Storbeck, when Rudy Karas was starting to ease into retirement, Evert set up a shop behind the Karas Garage And then Evert began to build a shop of his own on the east side of their home. He had to remove pieces of foundation left from the old Presbyterian Church that had been on that corner site. (The church was torn down in 1926 and the lumber used to build the present library.) Larry Layden could attest to Evert’s skill and helpfulness. Larry remembers, “Evert made a house call once. Actually it was a farm call around 1950 when I was helping my father farm. I was using a 1930's era F-14 Farmall tractor and I figured it could use some grease so with my handy grease gun I greased everything in sight. There was one zerk [grease fitting] that led to the throw out bearing on the clutch that was hidden away. I figured it had often been overlooked so I went wild with the grease. I finished up, started the tractor, put it in gear -- and nothing happened. Found out that I had filled the clutch with grease. We drove to town to find a mechanic and stopped by Evert Storbeck’s. He found a new clutch plate for the tractor and headed out to the farm to replace the clutch. Lesson learned.” Something about Zelma And now we turn to Zelma. Grandson Gerry says that Zelma was “an amazing cook.” Gerry especially remembers her fried chicken and a coffee cake that was to die for. Son Ed says that he remembers there was always a quilt set up in the living room. Grandson Gerry remembers the living room quilts, too, stretched on a frame, always one in progress. Zelma made quilts for all the family. Each of Gerry’s children has one. Zelma did quilting for others, too. I remember her quilting as exquisite. She did not quilt in straight lines as some did, regardless of the pattern. Instead, she outlined the small pieces and filled the open areas with free hand designs. In 1978, she quilted a double wedding ring quilt I had pieced and charged the meager sum of $75. It is amazing to look at the size of the stitches. I think her eyesight gradually deteriorated as she got older. I seem to remember her wearing thick glasses eventually, so I don’t know how long she was able to continue quilting. Carolyn Sue ("Sue") Uhri-Rottman remembers Zelma fondly too. They were kind of related because Sue’s mom and Ed Storbeck’s wife Joyce were sisters, Leota & Joyce Trimmer. Sue says as to Zelma, “She didn't drive & I remember her walking everywhere. She was in charge of the Cradle Roll at church & faithfully did a great job” Susie Marfice Rutledge adds, “I believe that Zelma was a founding member of the Better Homemakers Extension Club.” Donna Alderman Bucher says, “She was so very kind hearted!” Donna also remembers Zelma as outgoing. Donna’s daughter Daa talked with Zelma often. When Daa was 7, she learned to crochet. Donna says, “She made Grandma Zelma a necklace. It was about 10 feet long but Zelma wore it!! She wrapped it around her neck about 4-5 times then pinned it with a pretty pin towards her shoulder. Such a sweet lady!” Daa herself says, “I loved talking to Zelma. On her way home she'd hit grandpa's yard and I'd talk with her clear down to her house. I was probably 8 or 9 then.” Now they are gone Evert passed away first, in 1987. In her last few years, Zelma went west to live with son Ed. He says that they took some big trips. One time they traveled to Alaska by motor home and were gone about two months. Another time they went clear down to Southern California to see family. Zelma loved it all. She died in 2002. Grandson Gerry says that she really enjoyed those last years living out west. Incidentally, he also remembers that her favorite drink was Mountain Dew. So those are a few memories collected about Evert and Zelma Storbeck of Table Rock, Nebraska. I would like to have a local Hall of Fame today, and it would be about people who weren’t famous, just people who lived their lives well. There might be a few spangled areas in that Hall of Fame, but for the most part it would be about the people who made up the fabric of the town. The Legion Auxiliary ladies making soup. The Legion standing proud at a Memorial Day ceremony. Rudy Senft writing a sports story. Martin Cumro or J. C. Layden or any number of others sitting at a telegraph key. Bessie Kucera making kolaches. And there would be a model of Zelma stitching away at a quilt stretched in a frame, with a crocheted necklace wrapped around her neck four or five times, and a Mountain Dew on the table next to her. I would put a model of Evert nearby in a heroic stance with a wrench in one hand, and a plaque that reads, “Best Mechanic Ever!” Special thanks to Ed Storbeck and his daughter-in-law Paula Storbeck for patiently answering questions and to Paula for sending pictures of Gerry’s quilts. Paula’s genealogical information on Ancestry.com was also very helpful. |
Grandson Gerry's quilts, made with love by Zelma
Detail of quilting by Zelma Storbeck on wedding ring quilt top made by Sharla Sitzman. In real life, the pieces pictured are about 3" from side to side.
Photo 4030, the Ford garage, where Evert worked for a time
The Presbyterian Church, circa early 1900s. it was torn down in 1926, and Evert had to deal with the foundation when he began building his repair garage on the site
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SOURCE MATERIALS
Paula Storbeck, Gerry's wife, passeD on some of Gerry's memories of his grandparents. As to his grandma Zelma:
Gerry remembers going into her living room and she always had a quilt stretched out in the middle. |
Quilts made by Zelma Storbeck for her grandson Gerry. Photo 8936, shared by Paula Storbeck in 2020.
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Gerry Storbeck
Zelma was an amazing cook. Gerry remembers her fried chicken and her coffee cake that was to die for.
Her favorite drink was Mountain Dew. She really enjoyed the last few years she had here on the coast with family.
Carolyn Sue ("Sue") Uhri-Rottman remembers her. Sue's mom Leota Trimmer Uhri was a sister of daughter-in-law Joyce. Sue says as to Zelma: She didn't drive & I remember her walking everywhere. At family get togethers at our house, I was the one to get her. She was in charge of the cradle roll at church & faithfully did a great job.
Sue: Zelma's daughter-in-law was my Aunt Joyce, Mom's youngest sister.
"They were wonderful people," Sara Alderman says.
Linda Moran *Virginia Ribble's granddaughter?* "I spent time at their house, since they lived across the street from my Grandparents. First in the neighborhood to get a tv!"
Susie Marfice Rutledge: I believe that Zelma was a founding member of the Better Homemakers Extension Club.
Larry Layden: Evert made a house call once. Actually it was a farm call around 1950 when I was helping my father farm. I was using a 1930's Era F-14 FARMAL tractor and I figured it could use some grease so with my handy grease gun I greased everything in sight. There was one zerk that led to the throw out bearing on the clutch that was hidden away so I figured it had often been overlooked so I went wild with the grease. I finished up, started the tractor, put it in gear - and nothing happened. Found out that I had filled the clutch with grease. We drove to town to find a mechanic and stopped by Evert Storbeck. He found a new clutch plate for the tractor and headed out to the farm to replace the clutch. Lesson learned.
Daa Marie Wiemers: I loved talking to Zelma when she walked home. She'd hit grandpa's yard and I'd talk with her clear down to her house. I was probably about 8/9
Donna Alderman Bucher: She was so very kind hearted!! So outgoing! She use to talk to Daa about everything. When she was 7 she learned how to crochet. She made Grandma Zelma a necklace. It was about 10 feet long but she wore it!! She wrapped it around her neck about 4-5 time then pinned with a pretty pin towards her shoulder. Such a sweet lady!!
Sue: Zelma's daughter-in-law was my Aunt Joyce, Mom's youngest sister.
"They were wonderful people," Sara Alderman says.
Linda Moran *Virginia Ribble's granddaughter?* "I spent time at their house, since they lived across the street from my Grandparents. First in the neighborhood to get a tv!"
Susie Marfice Rutledge: I believe that Zelma was a founding member of the Better Homemakers Extension Club.
Larry Layden: Evert made a house call once. Actually it was a farm call around 1950 when I was helping my father farm. I was using a 1930's Era F-14 FARMAL tractor and I figured it could use some grease so with my handy grease gun I greased everything in sight. There was one zerk that led to the throw out bearing on the clutch that was hidden away so I figured it had often been overlooked so I went wild with the grease. I finished up, started the tractor, put it in gear - and nothing happened. Found out that I had filled the clutch with grease. We drove to town to find a mechanic and stopped by Evert Storbeck. He found a new clutch plate for the tractor and headed out to the farm to replace the clutch. Lesson learned.
Daa Marie Wiemers: I loved talking to Zelma when she walked home. She'd hit grandpa's yard and I'd talk with her clear down to her house. I was probably about 8/9
Donna Alderman Bucher: She was so very kind hearted!! So outgoing! She use to talk to Daa about everything. When she was 7 she learned how to crochet. She made Grandma Zelma a necklace. It was about 10 feet long but she wore it!! She wrapped it around her neck about 4-5 time then pinned with a pretty pin towards her shoulder. Such a sweet lady!!
February 24, 1966