Mildred M. Gerdes Bliefernich Kearney Resident Mildred M. Gerdes Bliefernich, 91, of Kearney passed away on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at Kearney Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at First Lutheran Church in Kearney. Pastors Rick and Michelle Carlson will officiate.
Interment will follow the service at Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Memorials are suggested to Camp Carol Joy Holling.
Condolences may be shared online at www. osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.
Mildred Marie Gerdes Bliefernich was born on July 5, 1927 near Byron, Nebraska, to Louis and Meta (Bohling) Heitmann. Mildred received her college education at Peru (NE) State College, Fairbury Jr. College, and Kearney State College. On May 4,1947 Mildred was united in marriage to Mervin Gerdes, and to this union four children were born.
The couple farmed near Hardy, Nebraska before establishing their own farm near Deshler, Nebraska. Mildred began teaching at Peace Lutheran Parochial School in Deshler, and spent some years teaching grades 5-6 there. Then she taught at Davenport (NE) Community Schools, teaching grades 1-2 there for 22 years.
She touched the lives of countless people through her many years of teaching. Teaching was more than her profession…it was truly her calling. In 1997, Mildred and Mervin moved to Kearney to be closer to their children and families, due to Mervin’s declining health.
Mildred continued her teaching career by substitute teaching for Kearney Public Schools. In 2001, Mervin died from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. On October 26, 2002 Mildred married Bernie Bliefernich at First Lutheran Church in Kearney.
She and Bernie were blessed to have 16 wonderful years together. Mildred was a loving and devoted, talented and reful wife and mother, whose strong positive attitude did not waiver. She was a wonderful homemaker with a tremendous work ethic.
She met life’s challenges head-on and relied on her strong faith in God to get her through the tough spots. Mildred adored children and loved her family fiercely. Celebrating her life and cherishing her memory are her husband, Bernie; her children, Lanny (Cheryl) Gerdes, Sharon (Steve) Stelling, Terry (Jane) Gerdes, all of Kearney, and Lynnette Brockley of Fullerton, Nebraska; grandchildren, Jeff (Kandi) Stelling, Christopher (Dana) Stelling, Angela (Brandon) Benitz, Jason (Leslie) Gerdes, John (Wendy) Gerdes, Jeremy Gerdes, Sara (Brandon) King, Abby (Matthew) Richardson, Rebecca (Keith) Becker, Hannah (Luke) Minturn, Josh (Marie) Johnson, Jake Johnson, Bethany Gerdes, and Maria Gerdes; and 23 great- grandchildren.
Mildred is also survived by her sisters, Loretta Schardt and Marge Vinkenberg; her brother, Lavern (Verla) Heitmann; and sisters-in-law, Delores Heitmann and Pearle Gerdes. Mildred was preceded in death by her first husband, Mervin; her brother, Willis Heitmann; brothers- in-law, Egbert Schardt, Virgil Vinkenberg, Leonard Gerdes, Norman Gerdes, and Walter Michel; and sisters-in-law, Mildred Gerdes and Genevieve Michel. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mildred M. Gerdes Bliefernich please visit our Sympathy Store.
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