Theresa Helen Rezac, 89, of Gering, passed away on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Scottsbluff with Fr. Michael McDonald as Celebrant. Private family inurnment will be held at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday October 30, 2023, at Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff from 5-7pm with a Rosary Service being recited at 6pm. It is respectfully requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials in Theresa’s honor be made in care of St. Agnes Music Ministry. Online condolences may be made by viewing Theresa’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Family Funeral Home in Scottsbluff is entrusted with arrangements.
Theresa Helen Melmer was born Sept. 2, 1934, in Wagner, South Dakota, to Albert V. and Lillian Melmer. She graduated from Wagner High School in 1952. She then attended summer school and began teaching that fall in a country school near Wagner, continuing her studies in subsequent years. She later taught in a Catholic school in Rapid City, South Dakota, and was a music teacher at St. Agnes School in Scottsbluff.
She married Raymond S. Rezac on June 4, 1957, at St. John Catholic Church in Wagner.
Ray and Theresa lived in South St. Paul, Minnesota; Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah; and Rapid City before settling in Scottsbluff in 1962. In Scottsbluff, they welcomed two children, Paul and Joan.
Family, faith and music were the core of Theresa’s life. She began playing church organ in high school and participated in music ministry the rest of her life. At St. Agnes Church, she was an organist, pianist, choir director and singer for 50 years. She became the parish music coordinator in the 1980s and retired in 2012. She was a longtime member of the local Sweet Adelines chorus.
She was also a member of Catholic Daughters and the Altar Society.
Theresa worked at music stores including Griffith’s Music City and Music & More. She also worked at Judy’s Hallmark, J.C. Penney and Lawn Doctor.
Survivors include her son, Paul (Patty) Rezac of Gering, Nebraska; daughter, Joan (Todd) von Kampen of North Platte, Nebraska; brother Frank Melmer of Hutchinson, Minnesota; grandchildren Kendall (Lindsey) Rezac, and Erika, Joshua (Anna), Benjamin and Annetta von Kampen; and great-grandchildren Katelyn and Kylie Rezac, and Emmeline and Jude von Kampen.
She was preceded in death by her husband, grandson Ryan Rezac, brother Stanley Melmer and a stillborn younger brother.