Barb Beitler

Mary Barbara Beitler, 95, of Kearney died Wednesday December 4, 2024, at Good Samaritan Hospital. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Kearney. The service will be livestreamed on the church website. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Nebraska Children’s Home or Shriners Hospitals for Children. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney is in charge of the arrangements. Barb was born on November 18, 1929, in Omaha. At the age of 3months, she and her twin sister Ruth became the much-loved daughters of Lester and Imo (Mallery) Shadle. They grew up in Hemingford, NE, worked in the family-owned bakery, and graduated from Hemingford High School in 1948. On December 23, 1950, Barbara married Bruce K. Beitler at the United Methodist Church in Hemingford. They were blessed with three children and made their home in Hastings and Kearney. Barb was a member of the Kearney First United Methodist Church’s Esther Circle group and co-chair of the Pass-It-On Ministry for many years. She and her husband were active in the Tehama Shrine. They enjoyed many adventures with the group including a cruise, which she loved, despite being terrified of the water. The skills she honed growing up in the bakery served her well when she worked for the Kearney Public Schools lunch program. She and one other lady made over 250 dozen dinner rolls each day, often the favorite item on the student’s lunch tray. Barb took a position at West Pharmaceutical Company as a Trimmer. She retired after 30 years at the age of 78. She loved to spend time in the yard tending to her flowers, hosting a neighborhood coffee group, cheering on the Husker football and volleyball teams and the Kansas City Chiefs. The perfect evening was sitting in the porch swing visiting with friends, enjoying a Pepsi or ice cream cone and watching the kids play. Barb used her creative talents to make personalized birthday cakes for many of the neighborhood kids and even a few wedding cakes. Barbara is survived by sons, Bob Beitler of Hesston, KS and Dave (Joanna) Beitler of Sandy, OR; daughter, Deb (Jan) Jensen of Kearney, NE; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; beloved niece and nephew, the Nemecek family, cherished neighbors, and extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Bruce; her parents; and her sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Don Walla.

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Barb Beitler

November 10, 1929 - December 4, 2024