Esther was born Esther L. Alpers, the second of four children to Henry and Emma (Fix) Alpers of Clatonia, Nebraska on January 31, 1920. Her older brother was Lowell Alpers (d. 1987). Her sisters are Irene Alexander (d. 2014) and Betty Srb.
Esther was part of a farm family and spent her development years performing chores and attending rural schools, and Clatonia High School, from which she graduated in May, 1936. She moved to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska. She lived with relatives in Lincoln while attending classes.
A devout Methodist, Esther was part of a church youth group in Lincoln. She was also an active participant of the University of Nebraska Extension Division in a student group put together by Ruth Pike, termed "Pike's Picks".
As a member of the church youth group, Esther met Ward L. Neff, a 1938 graduate of Lincoln High School, Lincoln, Nebraska. The couple began dating. At the outbreak of WWII, Ward enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and began training at various posts in the country. Esther followed him to his various training assignments, and the couple married on March 13, 1943 in Chico, California. Esther accompanied Ward to Lakeland, Florida, from where Ward shipped to England on March 10, 1944. Esther returned to Lincoln via train, and gave birth to the couple's son, Roger Ward Neff, on April 30, 1944. On December 1, 1944, 1st. Lt. Ward Neff, a member of the 410th Bmb. Grp., 646th Sqd., 9th USAAF, was piloting an A-20(G) "Havoc" bomber, when the aircraft experienced engine failure and crashed, killing Ward. Two gunners parachuted from the aircraft and survived.
Following Ward's death, Esther continued to live in Lincoln and work at the University of Nebraska while residing in a four-room apartment with Roger near the campus. She renewed an acquaintance with Edward J. Hirsch, whom she had met as a member of "Pike's Picks" prior to the outbreak of WWII. Edward, or Ed, returned from Europe a captain in the U.S. Army in 1946, and re-entered the University of Nebraska to complete the degree he was pursing when the outbreak of war prompted him to enlist in the U.S. Army. Ed received his degree with a certificate in journalism in 1948 from the University of Nebraska, and worked as a reporter for The Lincoln Journal, and the Providence (R.I.) Journal. On June 10, 1951, Esther and Ed married in a ceremony at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Lincoln. After briefly residing in Bristol, Rhode Island, the couple took up residence in Lincoln for the rest of their lives, eventually building a home in 1955 at 20th and Calvert Sts. in Lincoln. In February, 1957, Ed adopted Roger as his own and Roger became Roger Ward Hirsch.
While Ed working as a newspaper reporter, a member of the University of Nebraska public relations department, and eventually as a 24-year member of the University of Nebraska Foundation, Esther became active in civic and volunteer affairs. The couple was very active in University educational, social and sports activities. Esther was active in their church, the Junior League, the Heritage League, and the League of Women Voters, often serving in officer positions. She maintained close relations with her parents and siblings, and developed an extensive network of friends throughout the community.
Esther and Ed adopted a baby girl in 1960 named Nancy Laura Hirsch, but the child died at the age of four months. Nancy is buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln.
In 1961, Esther and Ed adopted another baby girl named Janet Christine. Janet Christine presented them with two grandchildren--Heather and Nicholas. Chris and her children and grandchildren resided in Springfield, Missouri. In May, 2018 Chris passed away at age 56 from an aggressive brain cancer.
Roger married Janet Lucile Salzman of Lincoln, and presented them with one grandchild--Gretchen. Roger, Jan, Gretchen and her husband Scott Monroe and their son Thomas reside in Lincoln.
In September, 1988, Esther was diagnosed with cancer. After a very brief battle, Esther died at her Lincoln home surrounded by many members of her family.
Esther was part of a farm family and spent her development years performing chores and attending rural schools, and Clatonia High School, from which she graduated in May, 1936. She moved to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska. She lived with relatives in Lincoln while attending classes.
A devout Methodist, Esther was part of a church youth group in Lincoln. She was also an active participant of the University of Nebraska Extension Division in a student group put together by Ruth Pike, termed "Pike's Picks".
As a member of the church youth group, Esther met Ward L. Neff, a 1938 graduate of Lincoln High School, Lincoln, Nebraska. The couple began dating. At the outbreak of WWII, Ward enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and began training at various posts in the country. Esther followed him to his various training assignments, and the couple married on March 13, 1943 in Chico, California. Esther accompanied Ward to Lakeland, Florida, from where Ward shipped to England on March 10, 1944. Esther returned to Lincoln via train, and gave birth to the couple's son, Roger Ward Neff, on April 30, 1944. On December 1, 1944, 1st. Lt. Ward Neff, a member of the 410th Bmb. Grp., 646th Sqd., 9th USAAF, was piloting an A-20(G) "Havoc" bomber, when the aircraft experienced engine failure and crashed, killing Ward. Two gunners parachuted from the aircraft and survived.
Following Ward's death, Esther continued to live in Lincoln and work at the University of Nebraska while residing in a four-room apartment with Roger near the campus. She renewed an acquaintance with Edward J. Hirsch, whom she had met as a member of "Pike's Picks" prior to the outbreak of WWII. Edward, or Ed, returned from Europe a captain in the U.S. Army in 1946, and re-entered the University of Nebraska to complete the degree he was pursing when the outbreak of war prompted him to enlist in the U.S. Army. Ed received his degree with a certificate in journalism in 1948 from the University of Nebraska, and worked as a reporter for The Lincoln Journal, and the Providence (R.I.) Journal. On June 10, 1951, Esther and Ed married in a ceremony at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Lincoln. After briefly residing in Bristol, Rhode Island, the couple took up residence in Lincoln for the rest of their lives, eventually building a home in 1955 at 20th and Calvert Sts. in Lincoln. In February, 1957, Ed adopted Roger as his own and Roger became Roger Ward Hirsch.
While Ed working as a newspaper reporter, a member of the University of Nebraska public relations department, and eventually as a 24-year member of the University of Nebraska Foundation, Esther became active in civic and volunteer affairs. The couple was very active in University educational, social and sports activities. Esther was active in their church, the Junior League, the Heritage League, and the League of Women Voters, often serving in officer positions. She maintained close relations with her parents and siblings, and developed an extensive network of friends throughout the community.
Esther and Ed adopted a baby girl in 1960 named Nancy Laura Hirsch, but the child died at the age of four months. Nancy is buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln.
In 1961, Esther and Ed adopted another baby girl named Janet Christine. Janet Christine presented them with two grandchildren--Heather and Nicholas. Chris and her children and grandchildren resided in Springfield, Missouri. In May, 2018 Chris passed away at age 56 from an aggressive brain cancer.
Roger married Janet Lucile Salzman of Lincoln, and presented them with one grandchild--Gretchen. Roger, Jan, Gretchen and her husband Scott Monroe and their son Thomas reside in Lincoln.
In September, 1988, Esther was diagnosed with cancer. After a very brief battle, Esther died at her Lincoln home surrounded by many members of her family.
Esther was born Esther L. Alpers, the second of four children to Henry and Emma (Fix) Alpers of Clatonia, Nebraska on January 31, 1920. Her older brother was Lowell Alpers (d. 1987). Her sisters are Irene Alexander (d. 2014) and Betty Srb.
Esther was part of a farm family and spent her development years performing chores and attending rural schools, and Clatonia High School, from which she graduated in May, 1936. She moved to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska. She lived with relatives in Lincoln while attending classes.
A devout Methodist, Esther was part of a church youth group in Lincoln. She was also an active participant of the University of Nebraska Extension Division in a student group put together by Ruth Pike, termed "Pike's Picks".
As a member of the church youth group, Esther met Ward L. Neff, a 1938 graduate of Lincoln High School, Lincoln, Nebraska. The couple began dating. At the outbreak of WWII, Ward enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and began training at various posts in the country. Esther followed him to his various training assignments, and the couple married on March 13, 1943 in Chico, California. Esther accompanied Ward to Lakeland, Florida, from where Ward shipped to England on March 10, 1944. Esther returned to Lincoln via train, and gave birth to the couple's son, Roger Ward Neff, on April 30, 1944. On December 1, 1944, 1st. Lt. Ward Neff, a member of the 410th Bmb. Grp., 646th Sqd., 9th USAAF, was piloting an A-20(G) "Havoc" bomber, when the aircraft experienced engine failure and crashed, killing Ward. Two gunners parachuted from the aircraft and survived.
Following Ward's death, Esther continued to live in Lincoln and work at the University of Nebraska while residing in a four-room apartment with Roger near the campus. She renewed an acquaintance with Edward J. Hirsch, whom she had met as a member of "Pike's Picks" prior to the outbreak of WWII. Edward, or Ed, returned from Europe a captain in the U.S. Army in 1946, and re-entered the University of Nebraska to complete the degree he was pursing when the outbreak of war prompted him to enlist in the U.S. Army. Ed received his degree with a certificate in journalism in 1948 from the University of Nebraska, and worked as a reporter for The Lincoln Journal, and the Providence (R.I.) Journal. On June 10, 1951, Esther and Ed married in a ceremony at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Lincoln. After briefly residing in Bristol, Rhode Island, the couple took up residence in Lincoln for the rest of their lives, eventually building a home in 1955 at 20th and Calvert Sts. in Lincoln. In February, 1957, Ed adopted Roger as his own and Roger became Roger Ward Hirsch.
While Ed working as a newspaper reporter, a member of the University of Nebraska public relations department, and eventually as a 24-year member of the University of Nebraska Foundation, Esther became active in civic and volunteer affairs. The couple was very active in University educational, social and sports activities. Esther was active in their church, the Junior League, the Heritage League, and the League of Women Voters, often serving in officer positions. She maintained close relations with her parents and siblings, and developed an extensive network of friends throughout the community.
Esther and Ed adopted a baby girl in 1960 named Nancy Laura Hirsch, but the child died at the age of four months. Nancy is buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln.
In 1961, Esther and Ed adopted another baby girl named Janet Christine. Janet Christine presented them with two grandchildren--Heather and Nicholas. Chris and her children and grandchildren resided in Springfield, Missouri. In May, 2018 Chris passed away at age 56 from an aggressive brain cancer.
Roger married Janet Lucile Salzman of Lincoln, and presented them with one grandchild--Gretchen. Roger, Jan, Gretchen and her husband Scott Monroe and their son Thomas reside in Lincoln.
In September, 1988, Esther was diagnosed with cancer. After a very brief battle, Esther died at her Lincoln home surrounded by many members of her family.
Esther was part of a farm family and spent her development years performing chores and attending rural schools, and Clatonia High School, from which she graduated in May, 1936. She moved to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska. She lived with relatives in Lincoln while attending classes.
A devout Methodist, Esther was part of a church youth group in Lincoln. She was also an active participant of the University of Nebraska Extension Division in a student group put together by Ruth Pike, termed "Pike's Picks".
As a member of the church youth group, Esther met Ward L. Neff, a 1938 graduate of Lincoln High School, Lincoln, Nebraska. The couple began dating. At the outbreak of WWII, Ward enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and began training at various posts in the country. Esther followed him to his various training assignments, and the couple married on March 13, 1943 in Chico, California. Esther accompanied Ward to Lakeland, Florida, from where Ward shipped to England on March 10, 1944. Esther returned to Lincoln via train, and gave birth to the couple's son, Roger Ward Neff, on April 30, 1944. On December 1, 1944, 1st. Lt. Ward Neff, a member of the 410th Bmb. Grp., 646th Sqd., 9th USAAF, was piloting an A-20(G) "Havoc" bomber, when the aircraft experienced engine failure and crashed, killing Ward. Two gunners parachuted from the aircraft and survived.
Following Ward's death, Esther continued to live in Lincoln and work at the University of Nebraska while residing in a four-room apartment with Roger near the campus. She renewed an acquaintance with Edward J. Hirsch, whom she had met as a member of "Pike's Picks" prior to the outbreak of WWII. Edward, or Ed, returned from Europe a captain in the U.S. Army in 1946, and re-entered the University of Nebraska to complete the degree he was pursing when the outbreak of war prompted him to enlist in the U.S. Army. Ed received his degree with a certificate in journalism in 1948 from the University of Nebraska, and worked as a reporter for The Lincoln Journal, and the Providence (R.I.) Journal. On June 10, 1951, Esther and Ed married in a ceremony at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Lincoln. After briefly residing in Bristol, Rhode Island, the couple took up residence in Lincoln for the rest of their lives, eventually building a home in 1955 at 20th and Calvert Sts. in Lincoln. In February, 1957, Ed adopted Roger as his own and Roger became Roger Ward Hirsch.
While Ed working as a newspaper reporter, a member of the University of Nebraska public relations department, and eventually as a 24-year member of the University of Nebraska Foundation, Esther became active in civic and volunteer affairs. The couple was very active in University educational, social and sports activities. Esther was active in their church, the Junior League, the Heritage League, and the League of Women Voters, often serving in officer positions. She maintained close relations with her parents and siblings, and developed an extensive network of friends throughout the community.
Esther and Ed adopted a baby girl in 1960 named Nancy Laura Hirsch, but the child died at the age of four months. Nancy is buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln.
In 1961, Esther and Ed adopted another baby girl named Janet Christine. Janet Christine presented them with two grandchildren--Heather and Nicholas. Chris and her children and grandchildren resided in Springfield, Missouri. In May, 2018 Chris passed away at age 56 from an aggressive brain cancer.
Roger married Janet Lucile Salzman of Lincoln, and presented them with one grandchild--Gretchen. Roger, Jan, Gretchen and her husband Scott Monroe and their son Thomas reside in Lincoln.
In September, 1988, Esther was diagnosed with cancer. After a very brief battle, Esther died at her Lincoln home surrounded by many members of her family.
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Married June 10, 1951
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