Winifred Janet Fraas

Winifred Janet Fraas, age 100, of Sidney, NE and formerly of Lodgepole, NE passed away Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Sidney. A Rosary Service will at 10:00 A.M. and a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Both services will at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sidney, NE with Father Karnish officiating. Burial will follow at 1:30 P.M. at the Pleasantview Cemetery in Lodgepole, NE. Visitation will be at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel from 1-6:00 P.M. on Tuesday. Services will be recorded and available on our website for viewing.

You may view Janet’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Services will be recorded and available on our website for viewing.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Janet’s care and funeral arrangements.   

Janet was born in Walthill, NE on March 6, 1921, the daughter of Lee Sellon and Winifred (Davidson) Sellon. She graduated high school in 1938 in Randolph, NE and directly after, received her teaching training from Wayne State College.  She taught school for three years in Wayne County Rural Schools then in 1941 she accepted a teaching position in rural Western Nebraska in Potter.  She then boarded at the Fraas Farm Home in Lodgepole, while teaching at the rural school a quarter-mile from the Fraas home, where she met Ralph Fraas.  Janet and Ralph were united in marriage on August 16, 1944 in Lodgepole, and returned to the Fraas Farm after Ralph’s military service and raised two sons, Stan and Larry.  

Janet spent her life loving her family, church and contributing to the community.  She volunteered at the Lodgepole Library, visited the elderly, and was an American Auxiliary Member for 45 years.  She continued to volunteer into her 90’s.  She was loved by all who knew her, even the neighborhood children who would visit, leaving with candy and guppy fish.  Such a gentle soul, she put others ahead of herself, was a great listener, and a friend to many.  

Janet is survived by her sons, Stan and wife, Carol, Fraas, Larry and wife, Dona, Fraas; sister Marian Clark; grandchildren Matt and Allison Fraas, Jessi and Brian Stilwagon, Tami and Mike Merriex, Jennifer Fraas, Michelle Fraas and Lance Heiman; 13 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson; many cousins, nephews, and nieces.  

She is preceded in death by, her husband Ralph Fraas, her parents Lee and Winifred Sellon; step-mother Alice Sellon; brother John Sellon; sister Betty Brandt; brothers-in-law Rex Brandt and Don Clark; father and mother-in-law John and Clara Fraass, sisters-in-law Mildred Sellon and Lois and Dale Talich and Ruth and Wesley Galloway and Verna Fraass.