Obituary
Orpha (Hoppe) Jimenez
1921-1998

Orpha grew to adulthood on the family farm and was an active member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. She attended country school and graduated with honors from the 8th grade. She then worked on the farm with her family.

In 1943, Orpha met a young soldier from the Air Force Base in Bruning at a local dance. She saw this young man, named Francis Jimenez, only a couple more times before he was shipped overseas. But he and Orpha continued to communicate by letter. As Francis says it, she wrote him long letters, sometimes as long as twenty pages.

When a medical condition brought Francis back to the United States, he wired Orpha from his native New York City and asked her to come visit him and his family. With incredible faith in God and a lot of guts, Orpha, a shy, Nebraska farmer’s daughter, headed off to New York City. Orpha and Francis were married by a military chaplain on June 10, 1945. Understandably, her family had their doubts that the marriage would last. Not only did it last; it thrived and grew, and became a thing of ultimate beauty, love, and joy.

Following their marriage, Francis spent a few more months in the military, before being discharged. He then worked for Pan American Airlines in New York City for a short time. But Orpha’s midwest roots were calling the two of them back home.

So Orpha and Francis moved to Beatrice, Nebraska, where Francis worked as an auto mechanic and later for a manufacturing firm. Then while he studied at the University of Nebraska, Orpha worked at the Beatrice State Home and later at the State Home in Lincoln.

Francis then began his lifelong career as an airplane mechanic and ultimately, foreman of the aviation shops for the Nebraska Army National Guard. This allowed Orpha to return to her first love, which was being a loving wife and mother. As Orpha saw it, the happiest times of her life were with her family. Francis and her family were her life.

Orpha was an active member of Sheridan Lutheran Church where she was very involved in the Ester Circle, quilting group, and delivering meals on wheels. She enjoyed traveling and was fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel to several parts of the country with Francis.

She also loved to garden and had a special knack for raising plants. As Fran said it so well, “Mom had a green thumb that went clear up to her shoulder blade.” She also enjoyed sewing and crocheting.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Marvin. Orpha is survived by her husband, Francis, of Lincoln, daughter, Francine and her husband, Monte Baatz, of Lincoln, two granddaughters, Nicki and Gretchen, of Lincoln, several neices and nephews, other relatives, and many, many friends.

May God bless the memory of Orpha Jimenez.