Father — Joseph John Lamport 03/27/1888 in Michigan City, Ind — 12/06/1967 in New Buffalo, MI.
Mother — Matilda Louise Krueger 11/29/1884 in Buffalo NY — 02/12/1923 in New Buffalo, MI
Married Duane Paul Woodman Sr. (03/15/20 — 03/26/65) on 07/09/57 – Widowed
Mother’s mom passed away when she was three so since her father was an engineer with the railroad she stayed with her grandparents on their dairy farm until starting school in 1925. She then lived with her aunt Opal in New Buffalo until her father remarried (Ema Rhoder) in 1928.
As a child she enjoyed helping her grandmother churn butter.
As a teenager her chores involved driving the tractor to cultivate & maintain the 40 acre apple / peach orchard
At age 14 she got her driver’s license and drove until 2005, age 85. During those 71 years, she received only one ticket.
She graduated New Buffalo Consolidate High in 1937. After graduation she moved to Decatur Nebraska where she stayed with a cousin until finding a job as a live in nanny.
In 1940 at the age of 20, she moved to Omaha and worked at Herbs Tavern as a cook’s assistant. After a short time, moved to the night shift as head cook. Some nights after closing they would go out & party till 4am then have breakfast at the Castle Hotel.
She started her floral design career in 1946 at House of Flowers in Florence. She worked there until 1957 when she started at Dundee Florist. In 1980 she left Dundee to work at Hilltop Green House until she retired in 1986. She then worked part time from 1986 — 2003 at Gullottas Florist. During those 57 years she attended various FTD workshops for continuing education in places like Michigan State University, Oregon & Florida.
She also worked on the Los Angeles City float for the 1988 Rose Parade.
She did a lot of freelancing, like the weekly flowers for American Lutheran Church from 1972 to its closing in 1997 and then Bethel Lutheran Church from 1998 — 2005. She also freelanced over 50 weddings starting with her sons in 1979 and ended with her granddaughters in 2011 which she referred to as her Swan Song.
She was a den mother when I was in Cub Scouts and continued to be active while I was in the Boy Scouts. She also had an Exploring Unit. Taught Sunday School and Baptismal Ministry at Bethel Lutheran Church. She was a Chauffer for her grandson’s football and soccer practices and granddaughter’s cheerleading practices.
Preceded in death by: Parents, Husband: Duane Sr. (1965) and Daughter-in-law: Mary Woodman (2000).
Survived by: Son and Daughter-in-law: Duane and Patti Woodman, Grandchildren: Patrick Woodman of Council Bluffs, IA, Paul Woodman of Omaha, NE, Valerie and Jonathan Albright of Bennington, NE, Julie and Scott Queen of Fremont, NE, Kristy and Chad Lenker of Phillipsburg, KS, Katie and John James of Carrier, OK, Jesse and Stephanie Pfortmiller of Phillipsburg, KS, and Michelle Pfortmiller of Omaha, NE, Great-Grandchildren: Silas, Ayiana and Rayne Woodman, Bailey and Braden Albright, Anthony Queen, Paige James, Josh Lenker, Joeli James, Aaron Lenker, Pacey, Aidan and Tyson Queen, Reid, Reese and Rubi Pfortmiller, Charlotte Johnson and Blake Johnson Jr. and many other family and friends.
Visitation Sunday 4-6 PM at Roeder Mortuary 2727 N 108th Street Omaha, NE. Funeral Service Monday (9/25/2017) 10:30 AM at Roeder Mortuary 2727 N. 108th Street Omaha, NE. Interment Hillcrest Memorial Park Omaha, NE. Memorials may be Directed to: Lauritzen Gardens-Omaha’s Botanical Center.
