Ardis Bernice (Gottula) Hunzeker  passed away January 28, 2017, at the age of 88 years at the Pawnee County Memorial Hospital in Pawnee City NE.  She was born on July 20, 1928 to Albert Christopher Gottula and Esther Marie (Damm) Gottula, at the family’s home near Steinauer NE.

Ardis attended country school at Clear Creek.  She attended 2 years of parochial school at St Peter’s Lutheran Church near Elk Creek, and graduated from Table Rock High School in 1945.  She followed the normal training courses in high school and taught country school for a time after graduation.

Ardis married Art Hunzeker on October 19, 1946, at St Peter’s Lutheran Church.  Four children were born to this union.  Ardis and Art spent the early years of their married life south of Humboldt NE, living with Art’s brother Jake, and Jake’s wife (Ardis’s sister) Maxine.  Shortly before their son Russell’s birth, they moved to their farm south of Pawnee City.

Ardis was known by many in the community, having started working outside of the home in the late 1960’s; first as a nurse’s aide at the Pawnee Manor, then as a clerk at Warnke’s grocery store, then as a clerk at the S&G store.  In the late 1970’s Ardis was the tailor at Sawyer’s Clothing.  Her last job was as a clerk at Nider’s Thriftway.  In retirement, Ardis continued to do alternations for people in the community from her home.

Ardis was the daughter of a farmer, growing up during the Depression and the Dirty 30’s.  She became a farmer’s wife, and was no stranger to hard work, helping tend to the farm chores and her family at all hours of the day and night.  Ardis was a “mother bear” to her children, always ready to sacrifice for them and defended them when she felt it was needed and appropriate.  She was also a woman of deep faith, and shared her beliefs and love of God with her children.

Ardis is predeceased by her parents, her husband Art, sister Lois Bowen and brother Kenneth Gottula.  She is survived by her sister Maxine Hunzeker, and brother Harold Gottula; also her children, Janet Perrin and husband Jan of Lincoln NE, Barbara Chambers and husband Keith of Lantana TX, Russell Hunzeker and wife Marcia of Houston TX, and Judy Siefken and husband Bruce of Lewisville TX.  Ardis also held near to her heart her 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, with one more to arrive in March.

Services 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church, Pawnee City , Nebraska.  Officiating Reverend Tim Llewellyn. Visitation on Monday, January 30, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. at Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska.  Interment at the Pawnee City Cemetery.  Memorials to the Zion Lutheran Church, Pawnee City NE. or the Pawnee County Memorial Hospital, Pawnee City NE. Online condolences may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com.