Erma June Fortkamp was born June 7, 1927 in rural Dundy County, Nebraska to Ben and Fanny (Duhm) Donze. Erma was baptized and confirmed in the Redeemer Lutheran church in Wauneta, Nebraska and graduated from Wauneta High School in 1946.
    On Feb. 14, 1951, she was united in marriage to Martin Fortkamp in Wauneta. To this union two children were born son Duane and daughter Gayla. They made their home on their farm in Hayes County, Nebraska until retirement in 1990 and moved to Wauneta. In March 2011 Martin and Erma moved to Brookdale Senior Living Community in McCook, Nebraska. Erma and Martin moved in 2018 to Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook.
    Before marriage Erma worked as a grocery store clerk in Wauneta. During her life Erma enjoyed being a member of the Lutheran Church. She was an officer in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, attended Ladies Aide and Bible study groups and her pastimes were reading, playing cards and visiting with family and friends.
    Erma was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Palisade, Nebraska until retirement and was then a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wauneta.
    Erma passed away and entered her eternal home Wednesday Oct. 2, 2019 at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook, Nebraska. She was 92 years of age.
    Erma was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Fanny (Duhm) (Donze) Maris and step-father Frank Maris; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law William Fortkamp and wife Ada; John Fortkamp and wife Anna; Fredrick Fortkamp and wife Merle; Ervin Fortkamp and wife Viola; Albert Fortkamp; Emil Fortkamp and wife Opal; Arthur Fortkamp; Laverne Fortkamp; Hilda (Fortkamp) Roschewski and husband William; Velma (Fortkamp) Doetker and husband Albert; Violet (Fortkamp) Long and husband Wendell.
    Erma is survived by: her husband, Martin of McCook; her two children, son Duane Fortkamp and wife Patricia of McCook and daughter Gayla Swisher and husband Steve of McCook; four grandchildren: Michael (Jeanette) Fortkamp of Ponca City, Oklahoma; Kathy (Kyle) Smidt of Kearney, Nebraska; Sarah (Brandi) Lister of Norwalk, Iowa; David Swisher of Gunnison, Colorado. Seven great-grandchildren: Matthew Fortkamp, Morgan Fortkamp, Marcus Fortkamp, Kourtney Lovelady, Ashlyn Smidt, Wyatt Smidt and Emma Lister; her sister-in-law, Nina Fortkamp, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
    Funeral services will be held Monday morning, Oct. 7, 2019 at 10:30 am MT at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wauneta with Pastor Keith Wellman officiating.
    Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta.