Doris M Ebke

Doris Mae (Tiemann) Ebke of Lincoln, NE passed peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus on October 7, 2026, at age 94 with her daughters and granddaughters at her side. She was born August 28, 1932, to Fred and Helene (Pieper) Tiemann of rural DeWitt, NE.

Doris was baptized at Trinity Lutheran in Clatonia, NE and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran in DeWitt, NE. She grew up on the family farm with her older sister and brother and had only one run-in with a bossy cow. She graduated from DeWitt High School in 1949 and took Normal Teacher Training at Fairbury Junior College and UNL. On Nov 18, 1951, Doris married Wayne Ebke, soon after the marriage of her sister to his brother. Doris taught K-8 rural school for 5 years and then did secretarial work for the County Superintendent. In 1952 she also began teaching piano lessons. Piano teaching would become her life-long passion through multiple cities of residence. Doris and Wayne were blessed with two daughters, Rita and LuAnn. The family moved to Gothenburg, NE in 1958 where Wayne managed the Howell Lumber Yard and Doris “did the books” for the business. They were an integral part of that wonderful community for 24 years. They moved to Galesburg, Illinois in 1982 where they owned and managed a Nutri/System franchise with multiple satellite offices. In 1988 they moved to Lincoln, NE to enjoy their first granddaughter and to be near their aging mothers.

Doris and Wayne loved to travel with friends and family, visiting most states and a multitude of countries. They thoroughly enjoyed treating their granddaughters to tours of Europe and Greece.

Doris was a woman of deep and abiding faith in Christ, and her faith was the foundation from which her many talents were shared. She was a remarkably accomplished pianist and accompanist, enjoying piano-organ duets, as well as two-piano duets with her daughter. She accompanied church services, community choirs, theater productions, and her daughters’ 4-H singing groups. She was a beloved piano teacher for 69 years, enduing her students with a love of music, helping form the next generation of teachers and accompanists, and sending some students on to professional careers. Among her students were her daughters and granddaughters, and even three generations of several families. Doris was a master seamstress, spending hours sewing clothes with and for her daughters, with or without a pattern. She could make a garden and any plant flourish, and she wrangled her daughters into preserving fruit and vegetable produce in a veritable assembly line. She was an avid bridge player, trying in vain to teach her busy daughters. She was an expert organizer and an exceptional leader, teaching Sunday School, Confirmation, Bible School, adult Bethel Bible Classes, and Bible Studies for her granddaughters’ high school youth groups. Her most endearing quality underlying her accomplishments was relating to people—building relationships. She was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was an encourager, mentor, counselor, and friend, always giving of herself to serve and elevate others. This was a hallmark of her piano teaching success as well. She cared about her students’ lives outside of piano. Her goal was to help each student reach their highest potential, regardless of their innate talent. Doris taught that technique and skills are critical to success, but interpretation and expression are how music touches the heart. She encouraged her students to enjoy music not only for their own life-long pleasure but for worship and to bring joy to the lives of others. We are thankful to our Lord for her long and wonderful life!

Doris was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Wayne, her parents, sister Gladys and Erwin Ebke, brother Earl and Evelyn Tiemann, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Harold and Arlene Ebke.

She is survived by daughters Rita (Bill) Overton and LuAnn Ebke of Lincoln, NE; granddaughters Dr. Taryn (Richard) Hershman of Naples, FL and Karis (Dr. Evan) Lange of Lincoln, NE; great-grandsons Carter and Rowan Lange of Lincoln, NE; nephews and niece; and other relatives and family friends.

Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 10:30 AM at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1800 S 84th St., Lincoln, NE. Memorials are suggested to Messiah Lutheran Church.