Memorial Services for Nelda Rae (Wightman) Kugler, age 86, of Wayne, will be held on Thursday, July 1 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Wayne. Masks are required. They will be streamed at https://www.facebook.com/Our-Savior-Lutheran-Church-Wayne-NE-ELCA. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 30 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Wayne. Interment will be at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery in Wayne. She passed away on March 8, 2020 in Wayne. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be directed to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Nelda Rae Kugler Friends of Music Scholarship – Wayne State College, and The Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
Nelda Rae (Wightman) Kugler was born December 10, 1933, in Oakland, Iowa to Leland and Ruth (Maskell) Wightman. She attended elementary school in Oakland, Iowa through the 5th grade. In 1952, she graduated from Mapleton, Iowa Consolidated School and attended Wayne State College from 1953-1955.
Nelda Rae married William “Bill” Kugler October 2, 1955, at St. John’s Methodist-Episcopal Church in Mapleton, Iowa. She was employed as the Deputy County Recorder in Onawa, Iowa, and later as the Secretary to the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Wayne State College until retiring in 1994. During that time, Rae attained her Certified Educational Office Employee Certification. Rae was a past member of Rainbow Girls (received Grand Cross of Color) and Kappa Pi Honorary. She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church where she served on WELCA (past Officer), as a Luther League Sponsor, Easter Pageant Director, Organist, Pianist, and Choir member. Rae served on the Lutheran Campus Ministry Board, Live and Learn Extension Club (local and county office), PEO Chapter AZ (past officer), WEOPA/NEOPA (Professional Office Personnel Association) past local President, State Officer, and National member, and the Genealogy Society of Wayne County (past President and Officer).
Nelda Rae is survived by her husband, William “Bill”; daughters, Kim (Scott) Kraemaer of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Kara (Melanie) Kugler-Wright of Lincoln; granddaughter, Lauren Rae Kraemaer; brothers Rodney Wightman, Richard (Virginia) Wightman; sister, Logene (Ray) Anderson; sister-in-law, Irma Jean Wightman; nieces and nephews.
Nelda Rae was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Charles Wightman and Bruce Wightman; in-laws, Henry and Margaret Kugler, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Bonnie & Robert Panter, Marian & Eugene Perry, Dorothy Wightman; daughter-in-law, Kelly Erisman. Rae’s smile was her trademark.
