Celestine "Sally" E. Vanis

Celestine "Sally" Vanis, 93, of David City, passed away on July 2, 2014 at the Butler County Health Care Center.

Sally was born February 15, 1921 to Joseph and Anna (Divis) Rerucha, near Bruno, NE. She attended a country school near Utica, and went to one year of high school at Tamora High School. After school, she worked as a telephone operator. Sally was united in marriage to Raymond Alois Vanis on April 29, 1941 at St. Patrick's in Utica.

Sally helped establish their family farm, working side-by-side with Raymond. She enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, embroidery, sewing, and playing cards and board games with her grandchildren. After retirement from the farm, she enjoyed traveling. Before moving to David City, Sally was a resident and parishioner of Ulysses for 50 years. Sally was a member of St. Mary's PCCW, Ladies Guild, and Catholic Workmen.

She is survived by her children: JoAnn (Gerald) Bartek, of Lincoln, NE, Vernon (Cherie) Vanis, of Spring, TX, Loretta (Russ) Daro, of David City, NE, and Paul Vanis, of David City, NE; 14 grandchildren: Mary (Matti) Iivanainen, of Nummela, Finland, Sara (Richard) Ruliffson, of Burke, Virginia, Anne (Jason) Buckbee, of Soldotna, Alaska, Dr. Rachel Bartek, of Geneva, Switzerland, Leah Bartek, of Columbus, NE, Scott (Amanda) Vanis, of Cypress, TX, Jill (CJ) Jarvis, of Houston, TX, Craig Vanis, of Austin, TX, David (Alexandra) Daro, of Omaha, NE, Dr. Robert (Miriam) Daro, of Scottsbluff, NE, Andrew (Melissa) Daro, of David City, NE, Doug Daro, of David City, NE, Katie Daro, of Omaha, NE, Julia Daro, of David City, NE; 18 great-grandchildren: Brendan, Noah, and Oliver Iivanainen, Charlie, Ben, and Isaac Ruliffson, Haley, Zac, Owen, and Morgan Buckbee, Caroline and Jake Vanis, Joey, Brooke, and James Jarvis, Celestine Daro, Lucy Daro, and Jack Daro; siblings: Helen Nelson and Adeline Geis, of Seward, NE; in-laws: Rose Ella Rerucha, of Colorado, Anne Rerucha, of Illinois, Bibs (Vanis) Schmillen, of Cherokee, IA, Fred (Dorothy) Vanis, of Ulysses, NE, and Gene Rezac, of Kansas City, MO.

Sally is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Raymond A. Vanis; brothers: Ted, Bill, Louis, Fred, and Ben Rerucha; sisters: Albina Kozisek, Martha Zima, and Hattie Voboril.