Vernon L. Ott

Vernon L. Ott, age 93, of Kearney, passed away Friday, May 2nd, 2025 at Mount Carmel Home Keens Memorial. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at Living Faith Fellowship Church in Kearney with Pastor Ryan Bristol officiating. Burial will follow at the Kearney Cemetery with military honors graveside. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral Home. Memorials will be directed to Kearney Grace Community Gardens. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave message or condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Vernon Lee Ott was born June 28, 1931, to Charles Ott and Ethlyn (Furby) Ott, in Eddyville, Nebraska, at an aunt’s home. His family first lived in a sod house in Buzzard’s Roost north of Eddyville, Nebraska. Vernon was the oldest of six siblings: Alberta, Lyllis, Kenneth, Charlene, and Gary. Vern attended country school in District 83 and graduated from Elm Creek in 1949. He was the last living alumnus from that class. In 1952, he was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps and received an honorable discharge in 1960. While in the service, he met Carolyn Rivers in California. They were married March 3, 1953, in San Francisco, California. To this union Angelo Franklin Ott was born in 1954. They moved to Nebraska where Cynthia Carolyn (Ott) Kenney was born in 1956. After the passing of his wife, he met Norma Benavidez. They married in October of 1984, adding her two children, Diana Lisa and Timothy Benavidez, to the family. Vern and Norma recently celebrated 40 years of marriage. Vernon was a hard worker. He briefly worked with the railroad, putting in tracks, worked in housekeeping at Good Samaritan Hospital, but most of his life he did what he grew very skilled at: construction, fixing up homes, and the detailed work of carpentry. Together, Vernon and Norma began ‘sprucing up’ homes that needed tender loving care, remodeling inside and out. Their biggest project was their own three-story home built in 1890, which they lovingly restored from condemned status to its beautiful Victorian distinction. Vernon liked to garden and to bake breads, pies and cookies for the family and church get-togethers. He had a ready smile and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Vernon and Norma enjoyed traveling and camping through the years. Vernon’s patience, kindness and faith in Christ marked him as a caring husband, father and friend. Vernon leaves a legacy through his family: wife, Norma Ott, son, Angelo (Sharon) Ott, daughter Cynthia (Ott) Kenney, all of Kearney, step-daughter Lisa (Dan) Hendrickson of Shickley, step-son Timothy Benavidez of Lincoln; sisters Charlene (Ott) Hisey and Lyllis (Ott) Berg, both of Kearney, brother Gary Ott of Shelby; sister-in-laws Krista Ott of Kearney and Esther (Manuel) Tarango of El Paso, Texas; brother-in-laws Frank Contreras and David Contreras of Scottsbluff, Ezekiel Contreras of Salinas, California, Daniel (Gloria) Contreras of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Eddie (Petra) Contreras of Andrews, Texas, Ruben Contreras of Kearney; grandchildren are Kasi (Tony) Farias of Plattsmouth, Kodi (Eddie) Lewis of Papillion, Kooper (Julie) Ott of Kearney, Kortni (Dan) Thompson of Kearney, Melissa (Josh Schroeder) Ott of Kearney, Derek (Abbi) Ott of Kearney, Amy (Nathan) Goodner of Kearney, Nate Hendrickson (Melissa Bausch, fiancée) of Lincoln, and Caleb Hendrickson (Emma Benck, fiancée) of Lincoln, along with 10 great-grandchildren, 4 step great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Ethlyn Ott; brother, Kenneth Ott; sister, Alberta Ott; sister-in-law, Sue Ott; brothers-in-law Milton Hisey, Everett Berg and many beloved aunts and uncles.

Tributes

Vernon L. Ott

June 28, 1931 - May 2, 2025