Celestine "Sally" Vandenberg

Celestine "Sally" Vandenberg, 89, of Brainard, passed away on Friday, December 31, 2021 at Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLANTS, AND STATUES, the family has requested memorials be given in Care of the Family.

Celestine “Sally” Vandenberg was born on January 10, 1932 on a farm near Brainard, Nebraska to Joseph & Lillian (Rejda) Coufal and passed away on December 31, 2021 at the age 89 years, 11 months and 21 days. Sally attended Dwight Assumption High School, graduating with the Class of 1949.

On December 26, 1951, Sally was united in marriage to Ernest “Dutch” Vandenberg at Assumption Catholic Church in Dwight. Sally was a homemaker and mother to her four children as well as helping Dutch on the farm. After their children were gone, Dutch and Sally moved from the farm into Brainard in 1994. She enjoyed baking (kolaches were the favorite of the family), gardening, quilting, embroidering, attending her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s events, and visiting with people. While Dutch was alive, they traveled to Hawaii and went on several Brainard Co-op trips. She was a former member of the St. Francis “Center” Church and Altar Society, and now a current member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, charter member of Holy Trinity Quilters, Holy Trinity PCCW, Holy Trinity Prayer Circle, Holy Trinity Funeral Committee, Brainard Area Seniors, and volunteered at American Red Cross Blood Mobile.

Sally is survived by her children: Arnold (Mary Ann) Vandenberg of Brainard, Rose Marie (Dwaine) Potter of Valparaiso, Gary (Deb) Vandenberg of Brainard, and Nancy (John) Osmera of Raymond; 14 grandchildren: Michael (Amanda) Vandenberg, Curt Vandenberg, Sara (Eric) Hofpar, Alan Vandenberg, Sheila Potter (Jim New), Jared (Heather) Potter, Shelley (Drew) Boysen, Cory (Andra) Vandenberg, Justin (Rosine) Vandenberg, Tyler Vandenberg, Clint (Samantha) Vandenberg, Lance (April) Vandenberg, Calleigh Osmera and Cassie Osmera; 21 great-grandchildren: Eva and Lucas Vandenberg; Miya and Charles Hofpar; Ellie and Riley Potter; Keeley, Connor and Cohen Boysen; Hunter, Traeton and Skyler Vandenberg; Camille, Nalah and Isabel Vandenberg; Jacob, Logan, Alexis and Addison Vandenberg; Vincent and Spencer Vandenberg; and 2 great-grandchildren on the way; sister: Florence (Gilbert) Kobza; sister-in-law: Joan Vandenberg; and brother-in-law: Norman Hoeft.

Sally is preceded in death by her husband, Dutch Vandenberg; grandson: Scott Potter; parents: Joseph and Lillian Coufal; parents-in-law: Henry and Helen Vandenberg; brothers and sisters-in-law: Ted (Evelyn) Coufal and Richard (Marcy) Coufal; and sisters and brothers-in-law: Lillian (George) Meduna, John Bartunek, Geraldine Coufal, and Adeline Coufal (in infancy); sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Beatrice (George) Hotovy, Marie Hoeft, and Fred Vandenberg.