Carol J. Poland, 79 Kearney resident Carol J. Poland, 79 of Kearney, died Sunday, December 23, 2018 at her home surrounded by family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Friday, December 28, 2018 at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney. Father Art Faesser will officiate.
Interment will follow at Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 pm Thursday at the O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home followed by a 7:00 pm Vigil/Prayer Service. Memorials are suggested to St. James Catholic Church.
Condolences may be shared online at www. osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.
I suppose that most people do not write their own obituary, but while my beautiful and successful daughters were a bit reluctant, I decided that after all that they’ve done for me, this is something I wanted to do for them. I was born on May 31, 1939, to loving parents, Steve and Agnes (Kamarad) Gruber. I was welcomed into the world by a midwife, Mrs. Benson, and Dr. McDaniels in Sargent, NE.
Being the third-born daughter, I was always facing the challenge of living up to my beloved oldest sister, Bonnie (Sullivan) Hoffheins, who passed to a better place in February, 2000, and my sister, Margaret Howard, from Grand Island, two years my senior who also passed to a better place in October, 2018. Both sisters were gifted with musical ability, and we all loved to play and sing. We grew up on a farm east of Sargent, NE.
I attended Phillipsburg District 36 Country School and later Sargent High School graduating in 1956. I then attended Marymount College in Salina, KS, from 1956-60 graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. One of the highlights of my college days occurred during my senior year when I was crowned Miss Marymount, one of the highest honors bestowed on a Marymount graduate.
I also loved drama and singing and had the lead in the play “Electra”. During my college summers, I worked at Mt. Rushmore to put myself through college.
I was able to climb the mountain and stood on President Lincoln’s head. After graduating from college in 1960, I joined the teaching staff at Goodland High School as a science and physical education teacher. I later taught in Grand Island at Walnut Junior High School.
Upon returning to Sargent in 1962, I married Larry Poland at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Catholic Church on December 27. After teaching PE and health several years at Sargent Public School, I received my Master’s Degree in counseling from Kearney State College in 1986, the year before it became part of the University system. I was then a counselor in Merna and Sargent for 12 years.
I retired from my Sargent counseling position in 2001 and opened an office in Broken Bow (New Potentials’ Mental Health Clinic) with a partner, Pat Smith. Then in 2005 Larry and I moved from Sargent to Kearney where I had my own counseling office (New Horizons Hypnosis and Counseling) until I retired for good in 2013. During my retirement years, I spent time volunteering at Good Samaritan Hospital and the cancer center.
In Sargent, Larry and I raised four daughters, Laurie Poland of Johnson Lake, Lisa Mannlein, Cari Mestl, and Katrina (Hanke) Hamilton all of Kearney. I gained three sons-in-law, 10 wonderful grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren: Tim (Lisa) Mannlein with 2 daughters Morgan (husband John Metzger and son Emmett) and Tessa (fiance John DeLaet); Ken (Cari) Mestl with Michaela (husband Jarod Speer) and Tyler (girlfriend Cheyanne Kuhlmann); Mark (Trina) Hamilton with Kelcie (husband Jordan McBride and son Mateo), Kaleb, Brent, Brady (girlfriend Hailey Harris), Josh, and Kendall all of Kearney. I know on occasion, the sons-in-law affectionately called me the ‘monster-in-law,’ but someone had to keep them in line.
We spent much of our time enjoying our grandchildren’s many sporting events and musical performances. I think we even managed to turn most of the family members into devoted Royals fans through some pretty special family vacations. All in all, it’s been a great life on this earth.
Larry and I traveled to Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, Japan, Hawaii, Greece, and many other amazing places. I took a ride in a hot air balloon and went white-water rafting down the Rio Grande with my family. But, in the end, my favorite place to be was at our lake house at Johnson Lake enjoying our family time and boat rides on “The Caroliner”.
I have raised a family, been a psychotherapist (helping others better their lives), and have lived a rewarding life. However, there is no place like home, so please don’t be sad because that is where I am now. God bless and keep you all safe until I see you again, Carol To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Carol J. Poland please visit our Sympathy Store.
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