Phyllis Marie Spanel

1932 - 2026

Phyllis Marie (Lewandowski) Spanel

November 21, 1932 - February 3, 2026

Phyllis M. Spanel, 93, of Omaha, Neb., formerly of Grand Island, Neb., died Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Brookestone Village in Omaha, Neb., surrounded by her family.

Mass of Christian burial will be held Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Rev. Richard L. Piontkowski Jr. and The Rev. Donald A. Buhrman will concelebrate the funeral mass. Cremation will follow the funeral mass. Private family inurnment will be held in the Grand Island City Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Curran Funeral Chapel with a vigil service at 7 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to St. Mary's Cathedral or Clark Spanel Memorial Scholarship Fund. Your thoughts and prayers may be given at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under Phyllis's obituary. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.

Phyllis was born November 21, 1932, in Sherman County, near Sherman County Dam, to Alexander and Maryanna (Rewolinski) Lewandowski.

As a youngster, Phyllis moved with her family to Ashton, Neb., where she attended a parochial grade school before graduating from Ashton High School in 1952. After graduation she was employed at Kinney's Shoes Store as a cashier then at Holiday Manufacturing where she met the love of her life, Bob. She was united in marriage to Robert W. "Bob" Spanel on February 20, 1954, at St. Mary's Cathedral. They lived in Grand Island where they raised seven beautiful children, the pride and joy of their lives. She always said she had one for every day of the week. After her children were grown, she worked as a Certified Nurse's Aide at St. Francis Medical Center, retiring in 1996. In her retirement she volunteered for St. Francis Hospice, receiving the Outstanding Volunteer of St. Francis Medical Center Hospice in 2007. She was a 4-H leader and a Cub Scouts Den Mother.

Phyllis was an active member of St. Mary's Cathedral, serving on the Parish Council for several years. She was also involved with Cathedral Ladies, a Religious Education Instructor, Christian Services Committee, Eucharistic Minister to the homebound since 1989, and assisted with St. Mary's Funeral Dinners. She was a member of Catholic Daughters of Americas, Court Ave Maria 1263 and Christians Mothers. She and Bob were members of a St. Mary's Cathedral couple's Bible Study Group for over 40 years.

She enjoyed dancing, singing, spending time with her grandchildren, bringing their favorite foods to family gatherings (especially her banana and poppy seed breads), exercising at the YMCA, cross-stitching birth announcements for each of her grandchildren, and making fleece tie blankets for her grandchildren and others. She was known for her endless energy, her outgoing personality, her compassion and her undying faith.

Survivors of her immediate family include five sons and four daughters-in-law, Ken (Sara) Spanel of Omaha, Neb., David (Jan) Spanel of Lincoln, Neb., Marty (Darcy) Spanel of Grovetown, Ga., Jim Spanel of Norfolk, Neb., and Shawn (Karen) Spanel of Elkhorn, Neb.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jody (Doug) Hughes of Omaha, Neb., and Shelly (Jim) Mitchell of Lincoln, Neb.; and two sisters, Sr. Agnes M. Lewandowski of Chicago, Ill., and Louise Dietz of Fremont, Neb.

Others left to cherish her memory are her 18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Robert W. "Bob" Spanel; grandson, Clark Spanel; daughter-in-law, Ronda Spanel; brothers, Leonard, Dennis, Henry and Ernest; and a sister, Loretta Duester.