Mary Lou Vreeland

Mary Lou Vreeland of Curtis, NE died February 15, 2015 at McCook, NE.  She was born July 1, 1931 to Hazen and Aletha (Schnase) Florom at their home in Curtis.  She grew up in Curtis and graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in 1949.  She was an operator at the Curtis Telephone Company for one year.

On November 3, 1950, Mary Lou married Nelson Eugene Vreeland in Curtis. To this union seven children were born: Kirk, LaDonna, Greg, Mark, Deborah, Kelly, and Denise.

Mary Lou and Gene bought the Palace Café in Curtis in 1959.  After Gene’s death in 1961, Mary Lou and her family moved in with her parents. The family continued to run the café until 1971, when she closed it and opened Mary Lou’s Drive Inn in Curtis.  From 1979-1988 she owned and operated the Raider Inn in Curtis, and continued to operate the Drive Inn until she retired. In 1999, the Curtis Chamber of Commerce honored her at a surprise celebration for forty years of restaurant service.   She was also awarded a certificate from Curtis Rotary in honor and deep appreciation of community pride and service.

Besides cooking, Mary Lou loved to sew, crochet and was on a bowling league for many years. She was an Avon representative and sold Playhouse toys, which gave her opportunities to earn trips abroad.  She volunteered at the Thrift Shop and delivered meals on wheels.  Mary Lou made scrapbooks and was especially proud of her collection of obituaries dating back to WWII, and was used as a local source of information by the community.

Mary Lou was a confirmed member of the Methodist Church in Curtis and taught Sunday School for several years.  In 1969 Mary Lou was selected as Curtis Mother of the Year. She was an avid Facebook friend to many and enjoyed keeping up with friends everywhere, as well as being a loyal Cornhusker fan. Mary Lou, fondly known as “Grandma Lou” was very special to her twelve grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Kirk Vreeland of Curtis, NE; LaDonna (Jerry) Sundquist of Curtis, NE; Mark (Barb) Vreeland of Haslet, TX; Kelly (Randy) Peterson of Amherst, NE; and Denise (Jerry) Wilcox of Crete, NE; her grandchildren, Misty Atkins, Kera Vreeland, Michelle (Jim) Hackney, Michael (Vickie) Sundquist, Jeremy Sundquist, Lisa (Mike) Treadway, Sean Vreeland, Ryan Peterson, Joshua Peterson, Erin Wilcox, Jesse (Jaime) Wilcox and Jordan( Briana) Wilcox; her great grandchildren, Alec Hackney, Alise  Hackney, Tyler Sundquist

Cole Sundquist, Gracie Sundquist, Michael Treadway, Alex Treadway, and Franklynn Wilcox.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hazen and Aletha Florom; husband, Gene; brothers, George and Marvin Florom; sister, Betty Knox; son, Greg Vreeland; and daughter Deborah Vreeland.

Mary Lou was a very caring and hard working woman who helped so many young people of the community find their way in life by working with her at the Cafes and Drive Inn.  She will be remembered as a one of a kind woman with a heart of gold.

Memorials to be decided at a later date.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Curtis, Nebraska; Thursday, February 19, 2015, 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Services will be held at First United Methodist Church - Curtis, Friday, February 20, 2015 at 10:00 am.
Burial will follow in the Curtis Cemetery, Curtis, Nebraska.
To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com .