Erma L. Hazen

Erma L. Hazen, 92, of Beatrice, formerly of Sterling, died Wednesday night, February 17, 2021 in a Madison, Wisconsin hospital. She was born on July 17, 1928 at Sterling and graduated from Sterling High School. After graduation she was employed at the Tecumseh courthouse for the County Agent and the Dairy Association/Bindweed District. On September 26, 1948 she married Shannon Hazen and they moved to Sterling in 1949. Beginning in 1952 Erma was partner and bookkeeper for Hazen’s Repair, Hazen’s Apco and Hazen’s Green Acres at which time she became a florist after attending florist school. She retired from the floral business in 1993 when they sold the shop and in 2000 retired from being church secretary at St. John Lutheran Church after 30 years. In 2001 they started as independent agents for the Lutheran Digest and traveled the state. She was a receptionist for Zink-Fox Funeral Home for many years. She was a long-time member of St. John Lutheran Church in Sterling, serving in different capacities with the women of the church. She also volunteered for various Sterling school organizations, PTA, was a 4-H leader, secretary for the Sterling Improvement Association, and co-chair for the Bicentennial in 1976. In 2014 Erma and Shannon moved to Arbor Meadows in Beatrice. Erma will be remembered for always sharing her smile and helpful attitude so generously with the world.

Survivors include her son, Vernon (Jeanine) Hazen of Sterling; daughter, Eldonna Hazen (Cathy Noth) of Madison, WI; seven grandchildren, Greg (Megan) Hazen and Kirk (Natalie) Hazen all of Lincoln, Michael (Cheryl) Hazen of Lake St. Louis, MO, Jonathan (Tina) Hazen of Sterling, and Spencer Noth Hazen, Aiden Noth-Hazen, and Carlyn Noth-Hazen all of Madison, WI; nine great-grandchildren, Kasey and Kye Hazen and Kensington and Graham Hazen all of Lincoln, Noah and Madison Hazen of Lake St. Louis, MO and Blake, Clayton, and Alexis Hazen of Sterling; brother-in-law, Milo Hazen; sisters-in-law, Virginia Schlender of Pawnee City and Judy McAlexander of Brownville; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Edna (Bartels) Wehmer; her husband, Shannon, who died on February 9, 2018; two brothers, Lawrence Wehmer and Lloyd Wehmer and wife Betty; parents-in-law, Lloyd and Fay Hazen; brothers-in-law, Leonard Wright and Harold Schlender.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at St. John Lutheran Church of Sterling with Pastor Kevin Arndt officiating. Burial will be at the Sterling Cemetery of Sterling. No fellowship lunch is planned at this time. Sometime in the future, when virus free, a gathering of family and friends will be scheduled. The family requests all wear a mask and social distancing will be observed so seating is limited. Friends are encouraged to watch the live stream on the church’s Facebook page. The body will lie in state at the Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice on Tuesday from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., on Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M at the Zink-Fox Funeral Home of Sterling, and then at the church on Thursday. A memorial has been established to St. John Lutheran Sunday School and Sterling High School Music Department. www.foxfuneralhome.net Zink-Fox Funeral Home of Sterling is in charge of the arrangements.