Elsie M. Steinauer 107, of Seward, formerly of Steinauer.  

Elsie Mae Steinauer, the only child of Arnold and Mary Anna (Kovanda) Petrasek was born in Table Rock, Nebraska on June 24, 1914 and died at the Ridgewood Rehabilitation and Care Center in Seward, Nebraska on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, one month shy of her 108th birthday.  She graduated from Table Rock High School in 1932 and attended UNL and Peru State Teacher's College.  Elsie taught school, was a census taker and as a CPA did income tax work. 

She married John Steinauer on April 21, 1948 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Steinauer, Nebraska.

Elsie had a long, incredible life.  She was interested in many things, had an incredible mind and loved reading and was a great conversationalist.  She enjoyed traveling and playing bridge.  Elsie took a cruise to Aruba at the age of 95 years.  During that time she also got her first desktop computer which she taught herself to use, as well as using her cell phone to call and text and learned to shop with QVC.   Elsie was not intimated by technology.  She still did her own taxes well past 100 years old.   Elsie followed current news, political happenings and had an astonishing knowledge of the stock market.  In her 100's Elsie had ridden her stationary bike for over 10, 000 miles.   Elsie spent a few winters at the Kensington in Beatrice, returning back to home in Steinauer.  She was fully independent until moving into the nursing home in Seward in 2017.

In 2020 and 2021, during the Covid pandemic, Elsie's 105th and 106th birthdays were celebrated with a drive-by birthday parade with police and firetruck escorts. For several of her birthdays she was interviewed on television. Elsie was a blessing to all who knew her.

Special thanks to Peg and Rose and other staff of Ridgewood for the loving care you gave Elsie, as well as thanks to everyone who sent birthday cards, notes and letters to Elsie over the years.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John who passed on January 22, 1995 and her special friend Shirley Argo who passed in Sept. of 2021.

She is survived by her niece Martha "Marti" (Gene) Feit of Elkhorn, special friends, Sandy (Kenny) Shaw of Seward, nephew, Martin (Lisa) Huff of Lincoln, niece, Monica (Sterling) Haning of Kansas City, MO, cousins,  Sally Meyers and Bille of Winchester, VA, many great and great-great nieces and nephews and numerous family members and friends.  

Mass of Christian Burial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 3, 2022 at the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Steinauer, Nebraska with Father Michael Christensen officiating.  Rosary will be recited at 10:00 a.m. prior to the mass.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 2, 2022 at the Wherry Mortuary in Pawnee City, Nebraska. 

Memorials may go to the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Steinauer or St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Seward, Nebraska. 

Interment will be in the St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, Steinauer, Nebraska.

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.