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Ulmer Obituary
Sutton resident Laurence Edmund Ulmer, 84, passed away Saturday, September 25, 2021, at the Sutton Community Home in Sutton.
Memorial services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, September 30, 2021, at the Federated Church with Rev. Mary Scott officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Sutton Cemetery in Sutton. In honoring his wish to be cremated there will not be a viewing or visitation.
In Lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Federated Church, Lung Cancer research or Dementia research.
Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com.
Services will be live-streamed from the Sutton Federated Church Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011598077854.
Laurence was born December 19, 1936, to Edmund and Christine (Ackerman) Ulmer on their Fillmore County farm. He attended Country School and then Sutton High School, graduating in 1954.
He farmed with his family near Lushton and served in the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserves from 1958 to 1964.
He married Phyllis Houts, the love of his life, in October 1959 in Sutton. Laurence farmed and established a dairy farm north of Sutton until 1970 when he became a sales rep for Nachurs International fertilizer company. He later owned and operated Stockham Fertilizer Company in the 1980’s. He next owned and operated Computerized Feeding Systems Inc, selling and installing Hoka Farm computerized feeding systems for livestock throughout the United States and Canada. After retiring, he enjoyed assisting nearby farmers with harvest.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013 and received an extra eight years with several periods of remission thanks to the work of Dr. Copur, Dr. Crockett, and the wonderful staff at St. Francis Cancer Center. His increasing dementia symptoms made this more challenging for all involved.
Laurence was active in the Sutton Federated Church as a Sunday School teacher, trustee and treasurer. He served as a representative at the state level of the UCC Church. He was a life-long student of many Bible studies, devotionals, and Methodist Men’s retreats. He also served as part of a local volunteer workgroup traveling to Louisiana to help repair homes after Hurricane Katrina.
He was a member of the Sutton American Legion, serving as Commander of the local unit for 2 years.
He loved attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting and music events and playing golf with friends and family. He loved kuchen and homemade ice cream, and he always looked forward to cleaning off the ice cream dasher.
He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 62 years, Phyllis of Sutton; their children, Michelle (Paul) Kohmetcher of Lawrence; Marcy (Bob) Miles of Omaha; Paul (Connie) Ulmer of Broken Bow; and Jonathan (Ann) Ulmer of St George, KS; grandchildren, Becky Kohmetscher of Lincoln; Brian Kohmetscher of Lawrence; Cory (Nancy) Miles of Gretna; Ashley Miles of Omaha; Garrett (Emily) Ulmer of Omaha; Cole Ulmer of Lincoln; and Nevaeh and Zaden Ulmer of St. George, KS; two great-grandchildren, Rylee and Bentley Miles of Gretna.
He is also survived by his brothers, LoRayne Ulmer of Henderson; and Kenneth (Sue) Ulmer of St. Louis, MO; sisters-in-law, Wanda Ulmer of Lincoln and Bonnie Houts of Detroit Lakes, MN; brother-in-law, Charlie Houts of Las Vegas, NV; and many special nieces, nephews, friends, and family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Mary Ulmer; brother, Dean Ulmer, Phyllis’ parents, Ralph and Olive (Stutz) Houts; brother-in-law, Lowell Houts; and sister-in-law, Janice Ulmer.
