Ina Apfel
Ina Apfel was born January 12, 1907, at Gregory, South Dakota. Her parents were John a ad Minne (Strich) Casey. She attended school in South Dakota and Nebraska., graduating from Pierce. NE High School. She attended Wayne State Teachers College and taught in schools at Pierce, Meadow Grove and Norfolk.
Ina and Raymona E. Apfel were married on July 16, 1929, at Yankton, SD. They kept their marriage a secret so that Ina could continue to teach school. They lived in Norfolk and Neligh and moved to Tilden where Ray operated a funeral home until 1941. Two sons, Gaylord and Raynord, were born during this time.
In 1941 the family moved to Wood River having purchased the funeral home and furniture store there from Heeron & Don. They lived in the funeral home where their living quarters were often converted into a chapel for services. They acquired the Cairo Funeral Home in 1942 and ran an ambulance service until 1971. The furniture store was closed in the early 1960's.
Ina was a sustitute teacher in the Wood River school and later became a licensed Funeral Director. She worked with Ray in the funeral and furniture business.
Ina belonged to the Wood River Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women’s group, the Wood River Women’s Club, Order of Eastern Star, Rebekah Lodge, Altrusa Club in Grand Island, and was a member of the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association. She played golf at the Wood River Country Club and enjoyed playing bridge.
Her son, Gaylord, married Joan Rainforth in 1954. They live in Grand Island where he is associated with Apfel, Butler, Geddes Funeral Home. They have four children and nine grandchildren.
Raynord married Mary Ann Siebert in 1963. They live in Wood River where they operate the funeral homes in Wood River and Cairo. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Ina died August 31, 1994, at the Good Samaritan Center in Wood River. She is buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk, Ne.