Velma Mae Dreifurst-Shupe

Velma Mae Dreifurst-Shupe, age 88 of Columbus, died Friday, August 6, 2021 at Emerald Care & Rehab.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at St. Isidore Catholic Church.  Visitation 5:00 - 7:00 pm Monday with a 7:00 Vigil service all at the Church.  Visitation will continue Tuesday morning from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. also at the Church. Burial is in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

The Service on Tuesday will be broadcast on the McKown Funeral Home Facebook Page. You can access the Facebook Page by clicking here .

Velma Mae Dreifurst-Shupe was born on February 18, 1933, in Meadow Grove, Nebraska to Roy and Lucille (Casselman) Ashby.  She grew up in Newman Grove with her grandparents, Fred and Della Ashby.  Velma graduated from Newman Grove High School in 1950.
Velma was united in marriage to Donald "Stetz" Dreifurst in Lindsay, Nebraska on January 20, 1951. Together they raised 5 children.  Velma and Stetz owned and operated the Oasis Bar in Columbus.  Stetz passed away in 1979.
She later married Elwin D. Shupe on September 17, 1993, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Humphrey, Nebraska.  This extended the family with three more adult children and grandchildren. Elwin passed away in 2011.
Along with helping out at the Oasis, Velma worked for Dale Electronics for 3 years and for 30 plus years at Becton Dickinson as a Quality Control Inspector.  She was a member of St. Isidore Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, Navy Mothers, Better 1 Extension Club, and the Red Hat Society.  Velma was a volunteer at Columbus Community Hospital for many years.  Velma loved to read and to spend time planting and tending to her flower garden.  Her smile was brightest when grandchildren and great grandchildren were around.

Velma will be deeply missed and is survived by:
Son: Steve (Jody) Dreifurst of Columbus
Daughter: Tonja (Vince) Lusche of Columbus
Daughter:  Lori (Kevin) Busse of Columbus
Daughter:  Kim (Jerry) Alt of Columbus
Stepdaughter:  Brenda (Pat) Eisenmenger of Omaha
Step Daughter-In-Law: Teri Shupe of Omaha
Brother:  Gary Ashby of Newman Grove
Brother: Larry (Lorraine) Ashby of Newman Grove
Sister: Linda (Jim) Scheffler of Albion
Sisters-in-law: Lucy Ashby of Hooper
Beverly Dreifurst, Donna Laska, Janie (Bob) Pensick of Columbus
LaRue Shupe of Omaha
Brother-in-law: Dale Holley of Columbus
18 very loved grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren
Many, many special nieces, nephews, and friends

She was met in heaven by:
Parents: Roy and Lucille Ashby
Parents-in-Law: Lawrence and Agnes Dreifurst
Husbands: Donald "Stetz" Dreifurst and Elwin D. Shupe
Infant Son: Terry Dreifurst
Daughter and Son-in-Law: Sandy and John Szelag
Stepsons: Mike and Greg Shupe
Sister and Brother-in-Law: Patty (Harry) Dreifurst
Brother: Lyle Ashby
Sisters-in-law and Brothers-in-Law: Vickie and Don Brandenburg
Cyril "Moon" and Charlotte Dreifurst
Rosie and Gene Hall
Sister-in-law: Betty Holley
Brothers-in-law: William "Peanuts" Dreifurst and Frank Laska