Emma Jane Wilder

Emma Jane Wilder, 95, of Kearney died Friday, November 20, 2015 at Mother Hull Home in Kearney. Funeral services will be Monday, November 30, 2015 at 2:00 pm at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Kearney. Father Jerry Ness will officiate and entombment will be in the Wort Family Mausoleum at Kearney Cemetery. There will be no visitation, the casket will be closed. Memorials are suggested to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church or the Buffalo County Historical Society. Visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney are in charge of arrangements. Emma Jane was born December 7, 1919 in Sacramento, CA to Dr. Joel Osgood Wilder and Weslie (Wort) Wilder. She attended elementary school to the 4th grade in the California Public School system. In 1928 she returned to Kearney with her mother and entered the Kearney Public School system, graduating from Kearney High School in 1937. After completing her first year of college at Kearney State Teacher’s College, Emma Jane transferred to Mills College in Oakland, CA, receiving her B.A. in June of 1941. The following year she received a teaching fellowship from Mary-Hardin Baylor College in Belton, TX. When WWII broke out she worked briefly at the Kearney Rationing Board then returned to San Francisco. From 1943-1945 she worked as a civilian secretary for the American Red Cross at Letterman General Hospital in the Presidio at San Francisco. In 1946 she took Physical Therapy training at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, receiving her Registry in May of 1947. She later received her Nebraska license when the state required it. In 1947 she became one of only 5 Physical Therapists in the State of Nebraska. She worked in the office of Schrock, Johnson & Waters, Orthopedic Surgeons, in Omaha until about 1951. Emma Jane then attended the 2nd World Congress of Poliomyelitis in Copenhagen, Denmark and the 5th World Congress for the Welfare of Cripples in Stockholm, Sweden. About 1952 she became a member of an orthopedic team that periodically held handicapped children’s clinics throughout the State of Nebraska. She later went to work in Lincoln at the Orthopedic Hospital in the unit for Cerebral Palsied Children. During that time the polio epidemic broke out. While in Lincoln, she was a member of Chapter FQ, P.E.O. serving in various offices and ending her tenure as President for two terms. She later transferred her membership to Chapter FN, P.E.O. in Kearney. Emma Jane changed occupations after the Polio epidemic and took a secretarial course. She then worked in the Nebraska Lumber Associations office. In 1962 the Lincoln Public School system contacted her to work for them in their crippled children’s unit where she stayed until 1965. In 1966 she moved to Kearney to assist her mother in the family property management business. Prior to going into the family office, she worked at Good Samaritan Hospital as their first full time Physical Therapist for about 3 years, from 1967- 1970. During her tenure in the family real estate management office she both managed and developed the property. In 1971 Emma Jane was appointed by the Mayor to the Kearney Public Library Board, at the time that plans were underway for the new library building. She served for 9 years, retiring as chairman. In 1975 she became a member of the board of the Buffalo County chapter of the American Red Cross, serving as secretary. She was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Kearney and served a term on the Vestry at the church and later became a member of the Alter Guild. She was also a member of the Monday Book Club. She was appointed as Trustee to the University of Nebraska Foundation in 1992. From 1986-1996 she was a Docent at the Museum of Nebraska Art. In 1993 she received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. In 1994 she received the Kearney Hub’s Freedom Award in the category of Business and Industry. She was also appointed to the Chancellor’s Advisory Board. In 2004 she was again requested to serve on the board of the Ft. Kearney Chapter of the American Red Cross. That same year she served on the board of the Kearney Area Community Foundation. She became a member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club in 1999. She enjoyed the fellowship in her community as well as travelling and reading. Emma Jane loved her family deeply, and took great pride in the city and state in which she lived. Surviving relatives include her sister, Isabella Artman of Omaha, NE; nieces, Cynthia Hartman and husband Herb of Omaha, NE, Pam Artman of Kearney, NE, Chris Lawrence and husband Patrick of Colorado Springs, CO; nephew, John Artman and wife Eleanor of Seattle, WA; great niece, April Clausen and husband Matt and their daughter Anna of Omaha, NE; great nephews, H.A. Hartman and wife Beth and their son Bennett of Dakota Dunes, SD and Shane Hundley, Jacksonville, FL. She is preceded in death by her parents and her grandparents. PDF Printable Version

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Emma Jane Wilder

November 20, 2015 - November 20, 2015