Claire Korgie

Claire D. Korgie, 95, of Columbus, NE, passed away November 23, 2023, at Brookstone Acres in Columbus NE.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 30, 2023 at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Wednesday. There will be a 7:00 p.m. vigil service all at the McKown Funeral Home. Visitation will continue Thursday morning 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church. Interment will be in the All Saints Cemetery.

Claire Delores (Reitz) Korgie was born June 27, 1928, in Genoa, NE. She was the 8th daughter out of 12 children born to Henry and Elizabeth (Kealy) Reitz. She grew up in Genoa, NE and attended Genoa Public Schools graduating in 1945.

After high school she started dating Daniel Birkel and they were married on February 3, 1947, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Genoa, NE. They had two children, Michelene and Timothy. Then in 1949, tragedy struck and Daniel was electrocuted while moving a house. Claire then went to work at B-Ds, one of the first hired, where she met Robert (Bob) Korgie. They were married November 11, 1950, and had 3 sons, Thomas, Robert and Ronald.

Claire and Bob moved to Southern California for 8 years, before deciding to return to the good life in Columbus, Nebraska. Claire was a faithful member of St. Anthonys Catholic Church. She enjoyed working bingo, helping with the bazaar, participating in perpetual adoration and was a member of St. Theresa Sodality. She was a stay-at-home mother until their youngest son, Ron, went to school at St. Anthony's. To help with tuition, Claire went to work at Dale Electronics where she worked until her retirement. One of their most important achievements was putting all 5 children through Catholic grade school and high school.

She enjoyed sewing, reading, playing cards with her children, and grandchildren and anyone she could challenge to a hot game of cards.   She made porcelain dolls and her speciality was Christmas treetop angels that her and Bob made together.

Claire and Bob were lucky enough to travel to all 50 states and several countries in Europe. One of her most memorable trips was to Lourdes, France, for her 80th birthday.

Left to cherish her memory are: daughter, Michelene (Ray) Pilakowski and their children, Jill (Pat) Engelbert and Joseph (Kristan) Pilakowski, daughter-in-law, Kim Westby Korgie, son, Thomas (Sue) Korgie and their children Matthew (Erin) Korgie, Mollie (Jason) Burrell and Megan Korgie, son Robert (Dianne) Korgie and their children Carrie Korgie, Jennifer (Adam) Sutton, Katie (Kyle) Liebig and Bob Korgie, son Ronald (Renee)Korgie and their children Adam Ruffcorn, Joshua (Chelsea) Korgie and Daniel Korgie, as well as 21 great grandchildren, sister-in-law Judy Korgie-Neitzel and numerous family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her first husband, Daniel Birkel, and second husband Robert Korgie, her son Timothy and parents Henry and Elizabeth Reitz, sisters Helen (Emil) Swantek, Ruth (Arnold) Edwards, Lillian (Louis) Mickey, Irene Gdowski (Hilbert) Schreiber, Mary (Jay) Sharp, Kathryn (Earl} Barker, Eleanor Reitz, twin sisters Patricia (August} Wetovick and Phyllis (Roger} Williams and two brothers William (Marge) Reitz and John (Wilma) Reitz, grandson Michael Timothy Pilakowski, brother & sister-in-laws, Harold (Evelyn) Birkel, Mary Ellen (Bert) Maneman, Leo, Frank, Edward Korgie, Father Humbert Korgie OFM , Dorothy (Ted) Iwan, Helen Moyers, Marge (Clayton) Lusche

Memorials to Scotus Central Catholic High School.