December 4, 1932- June 1, 2026
Elma Lee Buchholz, age 93, passed away on Monday, June 1, 2026 at the Good Samaritan Society in Beatrice, Nebraska after suffering a stroke. She was born on December 4, 1932 to Frank and Antonie (Vetrovsky) Penkava in Pawnee County, Nebraska.
She attended Table Rock Public School in Table Rock, Nebraska and graduated in 1950. Elma Lee went through normal training to become a teacher, taught country school for one year, and decided teaching was not for her. She married Edward L. Fritch on August 1, 1950. Four children were born to this union ~ Deborah Lee, Randall Edward, Richard Franklin, and David Lee. During her husband’s tour in the Army, the family lived in Germany, California, and Texas. After an auto accident took the lives of her husband and two children in December of 1962, she moved back to Table Rock.
While she healed her body and got her life back together, she and the two surviving kids lived with her in-laws, Rudy Sr. and Esther Fritch; afterward she bought a house and remodeled it. The family moved to that home where she resided for sixty plus years.
She met Wilber V. Buchholz and his son, Gary Lynn, and together created a blended family on December 16, 1965. To this marriage, a son, Daryl Wade, was born. During this time, Elma Lee became a CNA and worked for Colonial Acres and the Humboldt Hospital in Humboldt, Nebraska until her retirement. She enjoyed playing pinochle each week, doing a little gambling at the casinos with her friends, and spending time with the grandkids. Elma Lee took pride in taking care of her home and yard. You would often see her outside picking up limbs and sticks, mowing, and working in the flower garden herself until recent years when she was gradually forced to turn that over to others.
She was a member of St. James Lutheran Church of rural Elk Creek and a 58-year Gold Star Mother in the American LegionAuxiliary Brown-Hayes Unit 289 in Table Rock.
Her wish was to donate her body to the Anatomical Board of the State of Nebraska for medical education and research; her application was approved and that was accomplished.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Edward, and sons Richard and David; second husband, Wilber; her parents Frank and Antonie Penkava; Fathers-in-Law and Mothers-in Law: Rudy (Esther) Fritch, Sr., and Henry (Louise) Buchholz; siblings and spouses: Emilie (Louis) Hubka, Vic (Frances), infant Eva Mae, Frank (Grace), Jerry (Oliva), Millie (Karl) Znamenacek, Lester (Agnes), Irene (Art) Blecha, Ed (Delores), Helen (Ernie) Hoemann, Elmer (Dorothy), and Alfred (Erma Jean); Daughter-in-Law: Dee Fritch; Brothers-in-Law and spouses: Rudy (Dorothy) Fritch, Jr., Clark Hunzeker, Harold (Lela) Buchholz; Sisterin- Law and spouse: Verna (Otto) Ahntholz.
Elma Lee is survived by her children ~ Deborah Lee (Gary) Aylor, Randall Edward Fritch, Daryl Wade (fiancé Brandi Holley) Buchholz, and Gary Lynn (Jan) Buchholz; Granddaughters ~ Casey Fritch and Valerie (Tyler) Binder; Great Grandchildren ~ Morgan (Ben) Hier, Isabella Haner, Dakota Haner, Hunter Haner, Aspyn Haner, T J Haner, Parker Haner, Oakley Haner, Ryan Binder, Sydney Binder, Lance Binder, and Sadie Binder; and Great-Great Grandchild ~ “Peanut Hier” who is to make an arrival in late June; and Sister-in-Law, Marge Hunzeker. There are many relatives and friends left to mourn her passing.
There will be a private family inurnment at a later date as she chose to have no funeral service or celebration of life.
Memorials may be given to family’s choice.