Florence was born on January 5, 1913 in Grand Island to Herman and Elsie (Nielsen) Elstermeier. She grew up in rural Grand Island and attended Lockwood School. After school she worked on the family farm and helped various people doing housework and taking care of children. She also worked at the hospital in Kearney.

On December 5, 1935 she married August Spiehs in Kearney. The couple lived in the Grand Island area. Florence did a multitude of various jobs including raising her family.

Florence was a member of the Eagles, senior citizens, Danish Brotherhood, and a lifetime member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. She enjoyed gardening, dancing, collecting lots of different things including bears, angels, and bells, baking and sharing with friends over coffee.

Florence is survived by her children: Richard and Jeanette Spiehs, Allan and Sherry Spiehs, Elsie and Ron Hansen; grandchildren: Doug and Carole Spiehs, Keith and Shawna Spiehs, Barb and Jerry Simonson, Storm Santiago, Peter and Annie Spiehs, Tory Carkowski, Andrew Spiehs, Diane Hansen; great grandchildren: Bart, Claire, and Thomas Spiehs, Aiden, Riana, and Keaira Spiehs, Sam, Jon, and Jacob Simonson, Sayra Rabes, Christopher Santiago, Josiah Bacon, Cadi and Sheridan Spiehs, Megan Anderson, Adri and Addison Spiehs, Rebecca, Audra, and Elizabeth Eshelman; brother: Hamie Elstermeier; and special friend: Judy Oliver.

She was preceded in death by brother: Wilmer Elstermeier; sisters:Marie Elstermeier and Hulda Sorgenfrei.


Florence Spiehs, 101, of Grand Island died April 10, 2014 at Wedgewood Care Center in Grand Island. Funeral service will be 10:30 am, Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Grand Island. The Reverend Bill Pavuk will officiate. Burial will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 pm Monday with the family present at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, the Grand Generation Center, or donor's choice.