Ornitha Meiergerd, 99, of Dodge, died Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at Franciscan Healthcare in West Point.  Funeral Mass will be 10:30am on Tuesday, November 18 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church with Reverend Walter Jong-A-Kiem as celebrant.  Burial will be at St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery with lunch following at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church hall in Dodge.  Visitation will be Monday, November 17 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm with a Vigil Service at 7:00pm at St. Aloysius Catholic Church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for future designation.  Arrangements by Stokely Funeral Home.

Ornitha Theresa Meiergerd was born March 9, 1926, near Olean to Joseph and Lena (Rhode) Doernemann.  Ornitha attended Sacred Heart Academy at Olean through the 8^th grade and then worked with her parents on the family farm.  On September 30, 1947, Ornitha married Aloysius “Alex” Meiergerd at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Olean.  The couple farmed, fed livestock and raised their family north of Dodge, moving into Dodge in 1986.

Ornitha was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.  She enjoyed time spent with family and friends, going to dances where she met Alex and was an avid New York Yankees baseball fan. She was also known for her tasty and yummy baked goods and meals.  Ornitha could be found listening to polka music or watching the Lawrence Welk show.

Survivors include her daughters Doreen (Norbert) Vogel of Grand Island and Donna Meiergerd of Lincoln; son Ronald of Omaha; and daughter-in-law Lori Meiergerd of West Point; grandchildren Kimberly (Ryan) Lafler, Ryan (Sandra) Vogel, Kevin Vogel, and Janet Erives; and 4 great-grandchildren Madison and Barrett Vogel, and Everly and Kellen Lafler.  Ornitha was preceded in death by her parents; husband Alex in 2005; son Ken in 2010; great-granddaughters Brynlee and Leah Vogel; and her siblings Delores, Oringa, Wilfred, Gerald, Donald and Lambert (infant).