Carlean M. Kassebaum

Carlean Marie (Bartling) Kassebaum was born on October 1 1922, to Carl and Clarissa (Deaver) Bartling on a farm near Gilead. She was baptized on November 5, 1922 at St. Michels Catholic Church in Gilead.

She graduated from Reynolds High School in 1940. Shortly after that she was named Miss Hebron in the local pageant. She was employed as a telephone operator at Bruning Air Base where she met her future husband, Ernest Kassebaum who was employed as a bus driver at the base. They were married at Grace Lutheran Church, June 27th, 1945 and raised 5 children. Carlean and Ernie lived in Hebron, NE. other than a few years in Seward, NE.

She and her husband owned and operated several small businesses including theaters, a feed store, a liquor store and the Hebron school busline for almost 50 years. In 1972 they became co-owners with their sons of Kass Ford Sales.

During her lifetime she was actively involved with Grace Lutheran Church including teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and catechism class. She was also the first woman to be elected to the church council. She was involved with youth of the community leading campfire girls, boy scouts and girl scouts. She was a member of the Hebron City Council, a Red Cross representative and meals on wheels.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ernie in 1981, her sisters Gladys, Nelva, and Elaine, and her brothers Darold, Arlo and Stanley, and one grandchild.

She is survived by her children, Dr. Cheryl Hedegaard of Surprise, AZ, LaVonne (Bonnie) and Rick (Trudy) Kassebaum of Hebron, NE, Debbie (Bill) Pohlmann of Seward, NE, and stepson Darold (Rita) Kassebaum of Yerington, NV. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Jennifer (Hedegaard) Hixson, Jamison Hedegaard; Aaron, Lance, and Zachary Kassebaum; Kyle Kassebaum, Shauna (Kassebaum) Rodine; Ashley, Derek and Bradley Pohlmann; and Darold Jr. and Doug Kassebaum; 13 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

She is also survived by 3 sisters, Delma, Nola, and Shelia.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, March 19, 2015 at Grace Lutheran Church in Hebron, NE, with Pastor Keith Brozek officiating. Visitation will be from Noon to 8:00 PM Wednesday at Price Funeral Home in Hebron, NE.

Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church in Hebron, NE.

Price Funeral Home of Hebron, Nebraska, is entrusted with these arrangements.