Charlene “Char” Ruth Ebel Mees age 74 was born to John and Eileen Ebel on February 15, 1949, in Columbus, Nebraska and grew up on a farm near Bellwood, Nebraska.  Char passed away peacefully on August 19th at her home in Fairbury, Nebraska surrounded by her loving family.  Char was a faithful member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church.  She attended David City Aquinas and graduated in 1967.

Char was married to David Mees on December 19th, 1970 at St. Bonaventure Church in Columbus, Nebraska.  Dave and Char made their home on the farm south of Harbine, Nebraska where they welcomed their two children, Stacy Ann and Ryan John.  Dave and Char moved to Fairbury in 2001. 

Char was a member of St. Michael’s Parish Council of Catholic Women, Altar Society, and held the Chaplain Office with the P.E.O.  After high school Char loved working for Love Library in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her friendly smile, holiday get-ups and clever comments were a source of joy for Globe Rexall customers, while that same smile was a source of comfort when she greeted families at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home, both of which she worked at for many years in Fairbury, Nebraska.  She filled her days with Nebraska Cornhusker Volleyball, playing cards, golf, gardening, baking her famous sugar cookies, being a proud mother and grandmother and spending time with her family and friends. 

Char leaves behind hundreds of cookie cutters, sprinkles galore, a great seat at the Deaveny Center, many silly hats, wonderful antics, a three wheeler bike with a 4 NU VB license plate, a well worn swim suit, drawers of cookbooks, and a basket of over 500 recent cards of encouragement. 

Char is survived by her “one in a million” husband Dave; children Stacy (Dana Buhr) Lineweber of Lincoln, and Ryan (Kerri) Mees of Lincoln; grandchildren Katelyn (Nathan Timmerman) Lineweber of Lennox, SD, Lucas Lineweber of Manhattan, KS, Griffin, Simon and Hazel Mees of Lincoln; sister, Dee Ebel of Omaha; sister-in law, Shirley Fox of Fairbury; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and great friends.

Char was preceded in death by her parents, John and Eileen Ebel; father and mother-in-law, Arnold and Kathren Mees, brothers-in-law, Gerry Rathouz and Bob Fox, infant nephew Michael Wagner, and her wonderful forever friend, Doris Gill. 

We know her impact on this community, her friends and life by the outpouring of food, conversations, hugs, flowers, cards, caring directives from Cottonwood Hospice, and most especially, Terri Black.

Char says “I love you,” we say “we love you more” and she says “you may be right.”

Services will be August 28, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Fairbury, NE. The family will greet friends on Sunday from 1 - 3 p.m. at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home. Memorials will go to the Family's Choice.