Roberta Ann Nansel, age 89, passed away on Aug. 7, 2024, in Grand Island. Roberta’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Kearney with Pastor Matt Fowler officiating. Visitation will be at Horner Lieske Mc-Bride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney, on Friday, Aug. 23 from 5-7 p.m. Private family burial will precede the service at Kearney Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Kearney First United Methodist Church, Kearney Faith United Methodist Church and Primrose Retirement Community of Grand Island. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral. com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services of Kearney is in charge of arrangements.

Roberta Ann Hoffman was born on Nov. 23, 1934, to Hugh and Faye (Kolbo) Hoffman in Lodi. Roberta attended Milldale and Triumph School Districts. As a child she loved working with her dad in the fields and learned to milk cows at the age of five. Roberta graduated from Callaway High School in 1952. She was the secretary to the Superintendent of Schools her senior year of high school.

Following graduation, she was the legal secretary for Richard (Dick) Brega of Callaway. Roberta was married to Larry Nansel on Aug. 3, 1952, at the Callaway Evangelical Church. After Larry was drafted into the United States Army and had completed basic training, they moved to Boston, Massachusetts.

While living there, Roberta was employed as a legal secretary by Wasserman and Salter Law firm and also the Hurwitz and Hurwitz Law Firm. After Larry was discharged from the Army, they returned to Callaway and in 1958 they moved to Kearney.

Three children were born to this union: Kevin, Christine, and Melanie. After all three children were in school, Roberta went back to work and served for five years as the secretary at Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney. In January of 1972, she was appointed Deputy Clerk of the District Court and served in that position for seven years. She was then appointed Deputy County Clerk and served for four years. In 1982, she ran for the office of County Clerk and was elected for a 4-year term. She was re-elected for three more terms and then retired in January of 1999 after serving 27 years in county government.

Throughout her life Roberta served on several organizations and boards. She served on the board of directors of Kearney Area United Way, on the Nebraska Intragovernmental Data Communications Advisory Council, and was the Liaison to the Buffalo County Red Cross. During Roberta and Larry’s 58-year membership at Faith United Methodist church, she was a Sunday School teacher, member of United Methodist Women, Director of Children’s Ministries, and served on many committees. Roberta loved serving the Lord through Stonecroft Ministries where she was an area representative, a consulting coordinator for Stonecroft Bible Studies, a Bible Study Guide for 28 years, and where she received her certification as a Stonecroft speaker. She was chairman of the After Five Christian Women’s Club twice and she and Larry hosted at least 75 different speakers.

Roberta was very active in the Buffalo County Republican Party. She served as Chairman of the Buffalo County Republican Women’s group twice as well as serving on other committees. She received the Certificate of Commendations for Volunteerism from the Buffalo County Republican Party at the Lincoln Day Dinner in February 2010. Roberta was a charter member of the Buffalo County Legal Secretaries Association. In 1990, Gov. Kay Orr bestowed upon Roberta the Certificate of Admiral of the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska for her contribution to County Government and her dedication to her service on the Nebraska Intragovernmental Data Communication Advisory council.

Roberta and Larry enjoyed traveling, having visited 47 of the 50 States. They went to as many activities of their children and grandchildren as they possibly could. They loved to travel and watch their grandson Seth play baseball from the time he was 7-years-old in Omaha until he graduated from TCU and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox. They also traveled to Norway and Finland.

Roberta is survived by her children, Kevin and Pat Nansel of Grand Island, Chris and Terry Garrison of Dallas, Texas, and Melanie and Terry Sheen of Grand Island; grandchildren, Jason Peterson (Kari Rodehorst), Kara Nastase (Sebastian), Seth Garrison (Lauren), Kelsey Johnson (Mark), and Callie Friesen (Luke); great-grandchildren, Aryanna, Vincent, and Elliott Nastase, Abigail, Andrew, Ashton, and Annabelle Garrison, Will, Cora, and Reed Johnson, and Cameron and Brooks Friesen. She is also survived by sisters and brothers-in-law, Bernita and Craig Meads, Gaylene and Bill Rudy, and Jerry Jorgenson. Other survivors include brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lane Nansel, Linda Lawrence, Lee Ann Young, Ron and Em Jorgensen; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Larry; parents, Hugh and Faye (Kolbo) Hoffman; parents-inlaw, Charles and Kitty Nansel; grandson, Corey Sheen; sister, Dee Olson; and in-laws, Jim Olson, Karen Nansel, Barb Nansel and Kelly Young.

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