Phyllis J. Musser

Phyllis Jean (Wagner) Musser passed away peacefully at Josie Harper Hospice House, surrounded by family for over two weeks since her fall with fracture, and walked with Jesus into eternal life the morning of August 30, 2025, at the age of 91 years.

Phyllis was born December 14, 1933 on the Goetsch farm homeplace near Stanton, Nebraska to Leona Anna Auguste (Goetsch) and Norman Phillip Wagner. She was the oldest of two children with brother Norman Leon being 3 & ½ years younger. She was baptized by Rev. E.A. Klaus of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Phyllis was only a year old when her father, suffering from kidney disease had his kidney removed and would continue to suffer. He remained strong to support his family working various farms until his death on January 16, 1941. That bitter cold day the church bell rang 3 fast rings, following 27 slow rings for his age to inform the town folk of a death in their community.

Phyllis was 7 years of age when her father died and his body placed in a casket in the home of Grandma and Grandpa Goetsch in their living room for friends and family to come and pay last respects. The casket lid would close at night however and Phyllis would come downstairs to peek in the casket to see if her father was raised from the dead. Phyllis would share feelings of grief at times with her family of losing her father at such a young vulnerable aged, but through her faith, she knew someday she would see him again.

Phyllis attended St. John’s Lutheran Parochial School and confirmed in the Lutheran faith may 25, 1947 by Pastor Herbert Hackbarth.

After her mother remarried, they moved to a farm near Madison and later a farm near Stanton. She would return to live with Grandma and Grandpa Goetsch due to her dislike for farm life and attend school, graduating from Stanton High on May 17, 1951, and would then follow her dream to Omaha where she spent most of her life. There at a Halloween party, she met the love of her life, as did two other couples, and from this party, came 3 marriages.

On November 6, 1954 Phyllis Jean Wagner and Merle (Biff) Alan Musser married at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stanton. From this union was born four children: Teri, Randy, and the twins DeAnne & Kenny. They made their home in Omaha where Biff worked as an accountant at Sidles Automotive and the last 10 years of his working career at Mutual of Omaha.

Phyllis worked initially as a homemaker raising her children and 2 neighbor children who came as family and later worked as a secretary for Wakonda Elementary School, and then secretary for the athletic department at North High for her remaining years – All schools attended by her children. She would retire a couple of years before Biff.

Phyllis had a full and wonderful life living a faithful commitment to the Lord and her family.

She loved to travel with vacations to Connecticut, South Dakota, and most often to Colorado to visit DeAnne and her family, as well as Randy and his. They loved to go camping and fishing at Garden’s Point as their children were raised, and enjoyed sunrises & sunsets, windmills, old barns, and plants & flowers that she had in and around their home. She loved to sew, enjoyed crafts, crocheting, and decorating. She enjoyed cooking, baking, garage sales, and collecting treasures such as nutcrackers, Santas, marbles, buttons, frogs (for vases), baby dolls, old pictures, antiques, and especially paperweights. She was an avid reader, always interested in stories of yesterday and our world. She loved music of Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, and John Denver. She loved to play Bridge and especially card games with Spricks & Anders and entertaining. Christmas was her favorite Holiday, having everyone home to celebrate Jesus’ birth and His gifts to all. She was active in church involved in circle and alter guild. She loved to share stories of lives well lived in the family. Nothing was as well lived as Phyllis and Biff, who gave their children, grand and great grandchildren a solid foundation to build their lives on, and to be able to go forward in life.

Phyllis’ strength and determination through hardships were ever so amazing, such as with her loss of vision and hearing and increasing pain from the chordoma tumor.

She would have to say goodbye to the love of her life on December 3, 2019 but knew someday she would be with him again.

Phyllis would decide herself to move to Elk Ridge Assisted Living, in Elkhorn, and so moved on January 20, 2020 and adjusted well.

Her amazing model of grace and strength, her memory, and humble nature will always be remembered.

Phyllis and Biff left a legacy to their children and their families. They both are missed so much, but we all know we all will be reunited someday in Heaven with our Lord and Savior.

Phyllis is survived by:

Daughter – Teri, with close family friend Karen Flynn (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Son – Randy (Joyce) with grandchildren Tim & Harrison (great-grandson) & Jenny (Aurora, Colorado)

Daughter – DeAnne (Shawn) with grandchildren Katie, Jessie (James) and Daisy (great-granddaughter), Carlie (Josh) (Parker, Colorado)

Son – Kenny (Beth) with grandchildren Dillon (Jill), Josh (Allie) and Brecken (great-grandson), Jared (Julia), Chase (Morgan) (Underwood, Iowa)

Sister-in-Law – Barb Wagner (Norfolk, Nebraska)

As well as many nieces & nephews

Preceded in death by her parents Norman & Leona (Goetsch) Wagner (Polenske-Scalph); brother: Leon Wagner.

Our family wishes to thank the Elk Ridge Assisted Living staff for the wonderful care and companionship extended to our mother during her years with you from January 20, 2020 through August 14, 2025. You brought so much joy into her life as well as heartfelt support during her difficult moments.

We also wish to thank Zion Lutheran Church for all of the member and pastoral visits to both our parents over the years and especially to our mother through her grieving journey and life at Elk Ridge and Bergan Mercy Hospital. Prayer and communion was ever appreciated by both.

We also want to think all of her extended family and friends for all the support and friendship. She was blessed with all these years. The memories are ever so priceless.

There will be a Memorial Service 11:00 AM Monday (9/8/2025) with a luncheon to follow at Zion West Lutheran Church 14205 Ida St, Omaha, NE 68142.

Memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church or Library for the Visually Impaired.