Obituary: Jeannine Krejci

Jeannine Marie (Wadman) Krejci, 89, passed away on January 23rd 2019 at Fairview Manor in Fairmont, Nebraska. She was the only child born to Lloyd and Helen Wadman in Exeter, Nebraska on February 8th, 1929.

She attended Exeter Public Schools and graduated in 1946. She attended Business School in Omaha. Jeannine and her high school sweetheart, William “Bill” Krejci, were married on Sept 6, 1947, at the First Congregational Church in Exeter, Nebraska. Bill and Jeannine were blessed with four children during their 38 year union. They made their home south of Exeter and later south of Burress where Bill farmed and Jeannine became a farm wife until Bill’s death in 1985. In 1952, when she had a 4 and 2 year old, she contracted polio and knew God helped her recover. She was very independent and continued to live on the farm as a widow with the help of her son, Bill, and son-in-law, Bob, doing the farming. In 2012, she moved to the Exeter Care Center until it closed in 2015. She then moved to the Fairview Manor in Fairmont, NE until she passed away.

Through the years she was active with the United Church of Christ in Exeter as Sunday school superintendent, teacher, organist, music director, and women’s fellowship. She led 4-H clubs, was active in Woman’s Club, taught tap dance and piano, and led the Exeter Forever Fit Exercise class for many years. She had the gift of playing the piano by ear and could play any song requested. She loved taking care of her home on the farm and always kept it mowed and planted flowers every spring. She loved her Burress Bell friends, and they celebrated many fun birthdays together. She loved her family, and she loved life. She made sure that each of her grandchildren could come out separately to the farm for their special day. She attended as many of their school activities as possible for many years. She loved God and served him well with her many talents.

Jeannine was preceded in death by her husband William; daughter Karen Pelz; daughter-in-law, Dixie Krejci; parents, Lloyd and Helen Wadman; parents-in-law Edward and Agnes Krejci; sister-in-law Helen Spitler; and brother-in-law Edward Krejci.

Jeannine is survived by her daughters, Patricia (Robert) Becker and Sherry (Gary) Dumpert both of Exeter, Nebraska; son William Krejci of Exeter, Nebraska; grandchildren Jeremy (Carol Griencwic) Becker, Papillion, Nebraska, Kimberly (Joe) Panepinto, Castle Rock, Colorado, Jennifer Nabb, Dallas, Texas, Nicki (Jason) Alexander, Laramie, Wyoming, Jason (Renee) Dumpert, Omaha, Nebraska, Willie (Julie Birkes) Dumpert, Exeter, Nebraska, Jackson (Alexandria) Krejci, Lincoln, Nebraska, Dillon (Amanda) Krejci, Lincoln, Nebraska, TaLisa (Ty) Brown, Hays Springs, Nebraska, Melinda (Bill) Baker, Dewitt, Nebraska and Tracy (Kevin) Beranek, Milford, Nebraska; great-grandchildren Paxton, Rory, and Caleb Panepinto, Emma and Nolan Dumpert, Felicity Krejci, Kaylee and Carter Krejci, Nash Brown, RJ Clevenger, Dravin Birkes, Kayleigh (Trent) Whisler, Riley (Eugene) Shores, Dillon (Heather) Baker, Regan, Rio, Kenneth, and Aleah Beranek.; and great-great-grandchildren Elliot and Charles Whisler, Ty Baker and William Baker.

Exeter-Milligan Boys Win Triple Overtime Battle at CRC

 Exeter-Milligan boys beat Cross County Friday night in a triple overtime game 64-60 to take third place at the Crossroads Conference Tournament.

Exeter-Milligan Update: Art

 Colton Bossaller

 James Becker

 Katherine White

ART NEWS

By Lisa Kanode, E-M Art Instructor

Art is in the Air! No literally, K-4th graders at Exeter-Milligan have made and hung snowflakes from the hallway ceilings to get ready for their “Winter Wonderland” music program.  They all enjoyed learning to fold, draw and cut a radial symmetrical design to resemble a snowflake; no flake is alike!  The Kindergarten- 6th graders enjoy art with Mrs. Kanode one time a week for 40 minutes. In that time they work on technique, fine motor skills, mediums to use and their own creative ideas. If you walk the halls of E-M you will see anything from textured teddy bears by the 1st graders, to contour line drawings of a bicycle painted by the 6th graders.  The 4th graders have also worked hard on a Native American Painting that they actually fold up into a “parfleche”. This project works across the curriculum as it ties in with their Social Studies.

The 7th graders have been fortunate to have art 3 days a week for the entire semester this year which has really allowed for them to get a wide range of mediums and styles of art to work with. They have created Optical Illusions as well as Pop Art.  They are currently turning using their imaginations to make a creation from a tessellation shape they have designed.  However, I believe they will all tell you working with Clay is most of their favorites.

The High school art classes range from 1st year to 4th year students.  They have spent the semester working with clay, paint, pastels and pencil and they are wrapping up the year sharing artist presentations they have researched about an artist they choose.  With this presentation they also have to create a reproduction of one of their art works.  One student has found an artist that paints with many things, in his reproduction he is creating a large portrait of a soccer player by using a soccer ball instead of a paintbrush.  It is proving to be more challenging than you would think. A few others are painting on canvas, using chalk pastel pencils or sculpting from popsicle sticks. We are learning about art from the Renaissance, with Leonardo DeVinci, American Artists, Grant Wood and Georgia O’keefe; Abstract Expressionist, Paul Klee and Gene Davis and two contemporary artists, Arthur Braginsky and Red.

Death Notice: Jeannine M. Krejci

A Funeral Service for Jeannine will be held on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Church of Christ in Exeter. Pastor Stuart Davis will officiate the service.

A Graveside Service will take place at the Exeter Cemetery following the Funeral Service.

Visitation will be Friday at Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Lady Timberwolves Knocked Out of CRC Tournament

The Lady Tmberwolves took a hit at the CRC tournament on Monday night losing to Cross County35-20 to be knocked out of the tournament.

Timberwolves Move on to Next Round of CRC Tournament

The Timberwolves defeated the East Butler Tigers 65-34 to move on to play at 7:30 on Thursday in York at the CRC Tournament

Exeter-Milligan Update: School Store

Laura Steuben’s 3rd graders at Exeter-Milligan are shopping at the “School Store”. Student’s earn coins for academic and character trait successes and have the privilege to shop at the store once a month. Some students prefer to save their coins to purchase a big item. The School Store not only is a way to reward students but it teaches them how to count money, budget and save. The students were offered a deal this month with five coins off any item that cost eight coins or more.

Pictured are: Richard Hickman, Wilfrid Kallhoff, Clayton Pribyl, Titus Petersen, and Braxton Saatmann

White Chooses Missouri Western

Above: Katherine White signs on the dotted line to play at Missouri Western State University surrounded by her parents Brad and Darcy White.  Behind her Assistant Volleyball Coaches Laura Kroll (left) and Katherine Smith (right).

It wasn’t hard for Exeter-Milligan three-sport standout Katherine White to decide where to continue her education.

It was all about the volleyball. White, who has been an all-state outside hitter for Exeter-Milligan the last three years of high school, signed a letter of intent to play for Missouri Western State University in St. Joe,  Mo.

She was invited to campus this past summer to participate in one of their elite volleyball camps. The experience sealed the deal for White, “Their coach was the first thing that stuck out to me.  I felt that connection right away.  I also met a few of the girls and they were so nice.”

It goes without saying that White had options, but it was important to her to go with a Division II school.  “They don’t have a huge roster like a NAIA school.  They don’t have a JV team.  It feels like a small team like we had here and will help me connect better.”

She understands that she will have to fight for a spot at NWSU, “I had the same type of pressure here for state level games.  My biggest challenge will be learning a new bunch of girls.  So far, it’s been easy to connect with them, but getting to where we are comfortable will be the challenge.”

She will be playing for Coach Marian Carbin at NWSU.  Carbin has been looking for a player like White, “We liked her court presence; the way that she competes hard but stays calm and is a good teammate. We also liked her ability to be a 6-rotation player, playing both front row and back row effectively.”

White who had a team high 454 kills her senior season balanced this with her 251 digs for the season and 63 ace serves for the team.  This season she broke the school record in kills and in points scored in one season.

Her high school career made an impact on Exeter-Milligan volleyball records. In her career she sits in the second place spot for total kills with 1154, in first place for total aces with 199, in third for total digs with 865.  

Carbin hopes to capitalize on White’s combination of strengths in St. Joe, ”I think Katherine will compete for one of our open Outside Hitter positions. We have been looking for a 6-rotation outside for the past two recruiting classes, and I think Katherine has the potential to fill that role.”

One thing different at NWSU is White won’t have her mom, Exeter-Milligan Coach Darcy White, as her coach.  Katherine has played under different coaches on club volleyball teams and had no qualms about the experience.

Exeter-Milligan Coach Darcy White has enjoyed the challenge of coaching her daughter, “The best part of being able to coach her was probably that we have gotten to spend a lot of time together not only during our season, but also during her club seasons where we have had the opportunity to do quite a bit of traveling.”

"I think one of her strengths is that she doesn't take herself too seriously, but this was also an issue between her and I at times because she wasn't always the most coachable player for me.”

While she is keeping her options open right now, White has an inclination to pursue a career in education. She has a bit of a head start as she has been taking college level courses at Exeter-Milligan this year through SENCAP (Southeast Nebraska Career Academy Program).

Coach White is confident in the way Exeter-Milligan has prepared her for the next step, “Exeter-Milligan provides the opportunity to be involved in many activities as well as academic challenges .  KK's ability to be successful in those activities and in her academics gave her the confidence to continue to pursue those challenges and opportunities going forward.”

With all her success in high school so far, attending the state volleyball tournament all four years, the last two years at state basketball and state track, Coach White has high hopes for Katherine’s collegiate experience, “Hopefully she will continue to be successful at the next level, but it will be important for her to continue to work hard at these things and not take this for granted. It's important for her to keep a positive attitude while being patient as she becomes more comfortable with her role on her new team and in her academic focus.”

White sends a kill over the net at her last high school volleyball game in the state tournament against Wynot.