Pearl A. Hinrich, 99, of Pender, Nebraska, died on Sunday, April 07, 2024, at Colonial Haven Nursing home in Beemer, NE. The visitation will be held on Friday, April 12, 2024, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender. The funeral service will be on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church; Pastor Karen McNeill-Utecht will be officiating. Burial will be at the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Cemetery near Pender. Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Pearl was born on July 7, 1924, to Herman and Anna (Puls) Ahlers. She was the 6th of 8 children. Pearl grew up on a farm and learned to work hard at a very young age. When she was 12, she was sent to work for a neighbor to assist with housework and cooking. The techniques she learned then were the foundation for her lifelong love of cooking and baking.
She married Fred Hinrich on August 12, 1941. They welcomed their first child, Pearl Anne, in 1942 before Fred left to join the Army during World War II. While Fred was away, Pearl and her daughter moved to the Detroit, Michigan area, where she worked in a factory making instrument panels for aircraft used during the war.
When her brother was killed in England during the war, Pearl returned to Pender to be closer to her parents. Fred returned from the Pacific in 1945, and in 1946, they were blessed with a son, Kenneth Lee. They farmed in and around the Pender area for many years.
When they moved to town in 1966, she had been working as a cook at the Pender Public School for several years. She also worked at Joe’s Bar in the 1970’s(now Crippen’s 5th Quarter), and also at Ken’s Rexall in the 1990’s.
She was extremely proud of her grandchildren, and she and Fred spent many years traveling to football, basketball, track, baseball, and other activities like speech, plays, and drama performances to show their support.
She could be strong-willed and stubborn, and sometimes too honest, but those who knew Pearl knew her to be a kind and generous friend. She spent a tremendous amount of time in the kitchen baking rolls, cookies, and cakes. She also made candy, with her specialty being brandy-soaked chocolate-covered cherries. All of these things she learned with friends and family (and sometimes the Pender City Maintenance Crew).
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; son, Ken, as well as her parents, siblings, and in-laws.
Pearl is survived by her daughter, Pearl Anne (Duane) Strudthoff of Beemer, NE; daughter-in-law, Ellen (Rod) Lander of Pender, NE; one sister-in-law, Elsie Jeppsen; grandsons, Kevin Strudthoff and family, Kurt Strudthoff and family, Scott Hinrich and family, Kory Strudthoff and cats, Kyle Strudthoff and family, Steve Hinrich and family, Michael Lander, and granddaughter, Jill England and family.
She will be remembered fondly by her family, every time they have a cookie, piece of cake, candy, glass of beer, or a shot of Windsor.