Phyllis M. Fahrenbruch

Phyllis M. Fahrenbruch, 88, Kearney, formerly of Axtell and Bertrand, died Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at St. John’s Good Samaritan Center in Kearney. Funeral services will be on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Kearney. Rev. Sylvia High Karlsson will officiate and burial will follow services at 1:30 p.m. at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Axtell, NE. Visitation will be on Friday, September 16, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney. Memorials may be given to Kearney Community Theater. Visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a memory of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services of Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Phyllis was born on August 2, 1928 in Holdrege to Swedish immigrants, Gunnar and Jennie (Nilsson) Erickson. She grew up in the Bertrand area and graduated from Bertrand High School. Phyllis taught country school north of Bertrand for 2 years before she married Harold Dean Fahrenbruch in 1946. They lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a short time before moving back to Bertrand. Several years later Harold and Phyllis moved to rural Axtell to farm and raise their family. Phyllis enjoyed many activities throughout her life. She was the leader of the Axtell Maids 4-H club which won many purple ribbons at county and state fairs. One of her passions was painting ceramics and she taught ceramic classes for a number of years. Her jobs included a stint at the KHGI television station and 18 years at Anderson Bros. Plumbing and Heating. At home she enjoyed sewing, knitting and quilting. There wasn't a craft she wouldn't try. After Harold's death in 1981, Phyllis moved from the farm to Kearney where she became an active member of Kearney Community Theater. She was on stage in 20 productions and won many awards for her acting skills. She also volunteered behind the scenes, especially enjoying the costuming. She volunteered in the Kearney County Community box office before officially working part-time. She retired from theater at the age of 80. Phyllis also enjoyed dancing and the occasional trip to Vegas. Trips to Istanbul, Sweden and Hawaii provided her with many happy memories. She became a "computer granny" and enjoyed chatting online and playing scrabble with her internet friends. She was preceeded in death by her husband, Harold Fahrenbruch; parents, Gunnar and Jennie Erickson; sisters, Ruth Stewart, Elvera Dahlgren, Judy Schroeder, and Brita Jane Erickson; and brother Harold Erickson. Survivors include daughter Lynne and husband Steve Favinger of Kearney; sons Ricke Fahrenbruch and husband Bill Dick of Lincoln, Mark Fahrenbruch and wife Phyllis of Yukon, OK and Jay Fahrenbruch and wife Diana of Kearney; sister-in-law Verlyn Fahrenbruch Johnson of Holdrege; cousins Brita Bergkvist, Beverly Nelson and Bonnie Nelson. Also surviving are 6 nieces, 7 nephews, 7 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren.

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Phyllis M. Fahrenbruch

August 2, 1928 - September 13, 2016