Maryann E. Peters

MaryAnn E. Peters, age 82 of Wahoo, died Saturday, June 28, 2014 in Wahoo. She was born in Wahoo on October 18, 1931 to Emil and Amanda (Juds) Zimmerman and graduated from Wahoo High School. MaryAnn worked for several years as a Dispatcher for Saunders County. The interest she developed there for law enforcement and emergency services led her to install an emergency scanner in her home. She held a variety of jobs during her life including the Friendly Fashions dress shop and the Mead Ordnance Plant. MaryAnn enjoyed her work as a telephone switchboard operator and in the Saunders County Assessor's Office. Never one to be idle, MaryAnn made extra money as a babysitter and as an Avon Representative. She also worked at the Fairview Café and the City Café as a waitress. She even found time to become a hairdresser and to work at Gas N Shop. For a time, MaryAnn served as a caregiver for several homebound women. She and her daughter, Sandy, ran the concession stand at the ballpark for many years. Fishing was one of her past times. Bullheads were her favorite fish to catch, clean, cook and eat. Travel was another of her passions. She especially treasured trips to Branson, MO and to Las Vegas with her daughter and grandchildren. During the summer, MaryAnn could be found tending her vegetable garden and canning much of the produce. So extensive was this hobby, that she was dubbed "Grandma Pickles" by her family. Feeding and observing the birds, especially the Cardinals, in her backyard brought her hours of pleasure. She enjoyed Farmer's Markets, not so much for the shopping, but for the people watching. MaryAnn was tuned in to other people. Her concern was for their welfare rather than her own. In later years, she kept up with her close friends on the telephone. MaryAnn was a lifetime member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and was a member of the VFW Legion Auxiliary. She will be greatly missed by Muffin the dog. She is survived by her daughter Sandy Peters of Wahoo; son Gary Peters of Dakota City, NE; daughter-in-law Barbara "Bobbi" (Gordon) Watley of Lincoln; brother Leonard Zimmerman of Wahoo; grandchildren Amanda (Ben) Plouzek of Wahoo, Heidi (Eric) Nolan of Misawa Air Base, Japan, Mitchell Peters of Lincoln; nephews Larry Zimmerman of Wahoo, and Rich (Linda) Zimmerman of Wahoo; clode friend Donna (Robe) Eliason of Woodcliff, NE; and grand dog Muffin. MaryAnn was preceded in death by her parents, brother Leroy Zimmerman and sister-in-law Betty Zimmerman.