Steinauer Community Heritage House

10/07/2026

Sister Thomasita Homan, OSB-Sister Thomasita Homan, 88, a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kans., died Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the monastery.

Sr. Thomasite's father was an MD in Steinauer from 1935-37. Two of his early births were Danny Wagner and Betty Vrtiska. He later moved to Crete and then to Omaha, VA. In Crete, she served as his receptionist. She recalled Crete had about 5 other doctors. She enjoyed writing up some of her family history and sharing it with them.

Sister Thomasita Homan, 88, a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kans., died Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the monastery. The vigil service will be Thursday, October 8, at […]

10/03/2026

The museum will be holding a fall cleanup!

October 9th and 10th.
Work shifts both days:

9:00am to 12:00pm
1:00pm to 3:00pm

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED!

Volunteers can assist with either landscape work outdoors or cleaning inside the museum.

Thank you!!!
The Steinauer Community Heritage House

09/25/2026

Mystery photo identified with the help of Julie Gottula, and Delores Johnson: None other than Sam Gottula as young man and his sister Margaret, later, Mrs. George Beethe; guessed about 1910. He was then drafted in 1917.

09/17/2026

New Additions to Our Family Tree Library

The Family Tree Library at the Steinauer Community Heritage House recently gained two wonderful additions, donated by Lori Bausch, a member of the Sommerhalder/Bausch families.

The Fred Bausch family book is filled with family history and stories about the immigration and settlement of the Bausch family, offering a glimpse into the experiences of those who came before us.

The second addition, “My Heritage,” is especially charming. Lori created the family tree book as a fourth-grade project for a county fair. It includes her family tree along with stories and photographs—a wonderful example of how family history can be preserved and shared from one generation to the next.

We hope visitors will take a little extra time during their next visit to browse these books and enjoy the stories and photographs they contain.

Thank you, Lori, for sharing these special pieces of your family’s history with the museum and our visitors.

09/02/2026

Can you help fill in the No. with a Name?? (Click on to see faces and names.)

08/24/2026

During a recent review of our Steinauer-area veterans, Larry Obrist and Connie Blake compiled a list of veterans who are not currently pictured on our Wall of Honor.

We are asking for your help. Please review the names on the list and let us know if you have photographs, military histories, service records, or other information about any of these veterans. Copies of family photographs are especially welcome and can help us complete the stories represented in our veteran's display.

Remembering our veterans and learning about their military service reminds us of the dedication and sacrifices made by the men and women of our community who served our country.

Help us make sure their service is remembered and their stories are preserved for future generations.
Those Who Served our Country
Additional List

Army Fred Bausch
Army Herbert Bausch
Navy Rudolph Bock
Army Ed Bock
Army Glen Buman
Army Ernest Gyhra
Army Lester Hartman
Navy Norman Hoffman
Arm Army Frederick Parks
Navy Elnora Pfister
Army Clarence Rinne
Navy David R Rinne
Army Elmer Rinne
Army Kenneth Rinne
Army Vernon Rinne
Navy Will Rohwer
Army Warren R Schroff
Navy G L Schroff
Army Harry Seitz
Army Lauretta Sherill
Army Ronald Spier
Army Ronald Spier
Army Samuel Spier
Navy Lucille Steiner
Army Ervin Tegtmeier
Army Ernest Tegtmeier
Army Lawrence Tegtmeier
Army Oscar Tegtmeier
Army Elmer Wehrbein

Contact Terry Wagner, 402-812-0388 or [email protected]

08/21/2026

Steinauer RR Station 1916: Where local gals went to see and be seen. Guarded by Eddie Steinauer and Walt Obrist:
Click on to see names and faces!!

08/11/2026

Preserving Our Family Histories

The Steinauer Community Heritage House has a large collection of obituaries and remembrance cards. These cards often contain valuable biographical information—names, dates, family connections, and other details—that can help researchers complete their family trees and learn more about those who came before us.

The collection is kept in alphabetical order and is available as a resource for family and local history research.

If you have an obituary or remembrance card that you would like to add to the collection, please let us know. You may also leave it on the table at the museum, and we will make sure it is properly filed.

We are also interested in family history and family tree books that need a new home. These books can be wonderful historical resources, often containing family stories, photographs, genealogical information, and details about life in the Steinauer area that might otherwise be lost.

By sharing these materials with the museum, you are helping us preserve our community’s family histories for future generations.

Please contact the Steinauer Community Heritage House if you have materials you would like to donate or share.