The church has established a fund that will help pay for the Van Pelt children and their caregivers onging expenses.  If you donate, your contribution is tax deductible.Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

(Donations can also be mailed to 418 W. 12th, Grand Island, NE 68801. Please indicate on the memo line "Van Pelt Family")

Lincoln teen remains critical after crash that killed his mom

By ZACH PLUHACEK / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 8:51 pm

Lincoln High senior Cody Van Pelt, one of three siblings injured in a crash that killed their mother Sunday, remained in critical but stable condition Tuesday at BryanLGH Medical Center West.

One of his sisters, Irving Middle School seventh-grader Aricka Van Pelt, had been released from the hospital, a spokesperson said.

Cody, Aricka and their sister, Sydney, all were injured Sunday afternoon in a rollover crash on Interstate 80 near mile marker 356 between Grand Island and Lincoln. The crash killed their mother, 37-year-old Tabitha Van Pelt.

Sydney, a sophomore at Lincoln High School, was treated at York General Hospital and released soon after the accident.

Tabitha Van Pelt, who leaves behind a sister and four brothers, was born in Fayetteville, N.C. She graduated from Lincoln High and spent most of her life in Nebraska.

She lived and attended business school in Grand Island, recently returning to the Lincoln area with her three children. She was enrolled in business classes at Kaplan University.

"Tabby actually served our church as our administrative assistant for years," said Todd Bowen, pastor of Grace Covenant Church in Grand Island.

The Van Pelt family was part of the congregation for at least 10 years, Bowen said, although they were in the process of moving to another church in Lincoln.

"She seemed to have a good communication relationship with her kids," Bowen said of Van Pelt. "They apparently were willing to talk with her about what they were going through in life."

The family was in Grand Island on Saturday for the wedding of the children's father.

On Tuesday, he was in Lincoln with the children as Cody continued to undergo treatment.

"I think he's holding up as well as can be expected," Bowen said.

Grace Covenant is leading a fund drive to raise money for the father's living expenses while in Lincoln, as well as the children's medical costs.

Services for Van Pelt will be 10 a.m. Friday at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th St. Visitation is Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with family in attendance from 6 to 8 p.m.

Van Pelt, Tabitha Ann (Gewecke)

By the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, April 23, 2010 2:30 am

Tabitha Ann (Gewecke) Van Pelt, 37, Lincoln, formerly of Grand Island, Neb., died Sunday (4/18/10), in York County. Born on January 2, 1973 in Fayetteville, N.C. Graduate of Lincoln High School, Lincoln and Spencer School of Business in Grand Island. Currently attending Kaplan University in accounting.

Survived by: son, Cody Van Pelt, Lincoln; daughters, Sydney Van Pelt, Lincoln, Aricka Van Pelt, Lincoln; mother, M. Paulette (Furmage) Cohenskey, Pontoon Beach, Ill.; father, step-mother, Allen and Nancy Gewecke, Lincoln; sister, brother-in-law, Teri Alley-Davis (Bob), Lincoln; brothers, sisters-in-law, Steve and Linda Gewecke, Lincoln, Sean and Amy Gewecke, Lincoln, Heath Gewecke, Lincoln, Nicholas and Anna Gewecke, Knoxville, Tenn.; five nieces; three nephews; Aunts; Uncles; Cousins; former husband Joel Van Pelt, Grand Island, Neb.

Services; 10 a.m., Friday (4/23/10), Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home 6800 South 14th Street. Visitation: Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with family greeting friends 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment Lincoln Memorial Park. Memorials in care of the family, C/O Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home. Condolences www.lincolnfh.com.