Mary Ellen (Murphy) Lempka, 87, of Tecumseh, Nebraska passed away Friday, June 12, 2026 at Pemberly Place Senior Living in Lincoln, Nebraska with her daughters by her side. Mary Ellen was born to Arthur and Lorene (Rademacher) Murphy on April 6, 1939 on the family farm near Vesta, Nebraska.

She attended Rose Hill District #9 country school located ½ mile north of the Murphy farm, Vesta School her freshman year of high school, and graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1956. After graduation, Mary received her teaching certificate from Peru State College and taught for one year at No Name School District #8 country school located 3 miles south of Vesta.

Mary was united in marriage to Nicholas “Nick” Lempka on May 18, 1957 at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska. To this union five children were born.

Mary and Nick farmed and raised their children on their farm west of Tecumseh until Nick’s retirement when they moved into Tecumseh. Besides being a housewife and mother, Mary tied flies for flyfishing to supplement the farm income. She taught for the ECHO program, worked at Parrish Grocery and retired after many years from Johnson County Hospital as food service supervisor after receiving her certified dietary manager certificate.

Mary and Nick enjoyed spending winters in Arizona where she continued volunteering at their retirement community in the food service and activities areas. Mary enjoyed sewing, quilting and reading. She volunteered at SENCA, was a member of Book Club and St. Andrew Altar Society. Mary had a kind heart and sweet disposition and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her children, Sheila Lempka and husband Ron Roberts, Jackie Nisley and husband Brent, Gary Lempka and wife Vira, Alan Lempka and Ann Lempka and husband Bob, grandchildren, Chris Roberts and wife Ali, Kaitlyn Roberts and husband Tim Murphy, Kayla Bruss and husband Preston, Corey Lempka, Brandon Lempka, Justin Lempka and wife Michaela, Nick Lempka and wife Shawna, Dylan Lempka and wife Jenna, Elly Phelps and husband De-Shawn and Andrew Lempka and wife Liz, step-grandson Frank Baques, great-grandchildren, Connor and Clara Roberts, Michael and Marcy Murphy, Maddox, Jack, Cora and Beau Bruss, Weston and Riley Lempka, Hank Lempka, Kaiyah Phelps and Ellis and Estee Lempka, sister and brother- in-law, Margaret and Jerry Parrish, brother and sister-inlaw John and Diane Murphy, sister-in-law Betty Putnam, numerous nieces, nephews and many friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband Nick (2018), parents-in-law Ralph and Victoria Lempka, sisters and brothers in law, Monica Eilers- Wulf and husbands Marvin Eilers and Donald Wulf, Mary Goracke and husband Norman, Bonnie Jensen and husband Harry, Emily Schram and husband Larry, Kathleen Goracke and husband Roy “Bud”, Gene Lempka and wife Margaret, Emil Lempka and wife Rita and Harold Putnam.

A Memorial Mass was held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at the St. Mary Catholic Church in St. Mary, Nebraska with Father Thomas McGuire officiating. Tammy Lempka, organist, accompanied vocalist, Steve Lempka and congregational hymns, “I Heard The Voice of Jesus Say”, “Amazing Grace”, “On Eagle’s Wings” and “Precious Lord, Take My Hand. “ Honorary pallbearers were all of Mary’s grandchildren. Inurnment was in the St. Andrew Catholic Cemetery, Tecumseh, Nebraska. Memorials may go to the SENCA Food Pantry in Tecumseh, Nebraska. Services were entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, Tecumseh, Nebraska.