Nancy H. Schmerdtmann

Nancy Schmerdtmann, 82, of Grand Island NE, died February 28, 2025, and is now safe and free from pain in the arms of her Lord. A committal service will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Rosehill Cemetery in Pender, NE.  A time of fellowship will be shared following the service at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Pender.  Local arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender.

Nancy was born to John and Emma (Hespe) Schmerdtmann on January 7, 1943, in Pender, Nebraska. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at the time of her passing.

Nancy graduated from Pender Public Schools in 1961. In 1965 she graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln with a B.S. from the college of Agriculture and Home Economics. She taught in Albion Public Schools for eleven years before returning to Lincoln to earn a master’s degree. In 1978 she began her 25-year career as a UNL Extension Educator in Hall County, retiring in December of 2003. She loved her work and touched many lives through the years.

Nancy truly had a servant’s heart. She was one phone call away from lending her creative mind and exceptional organizational skills to any task. Her family was blessed with her artistic creations and endless seamstress gifts. After her mother’s passing in 2010, Nancy continued the month-long tradition of baking cookies to share with her family on Christmas Eve. She volunteered for her church, Habitat for Humanity and when the Nebraska State Fair relocated to Grand Island in 2010, she was superintendent for open-class exhibits for many years.

Nancy is survived by her sisters, Mary (Clayton) Parham of Clearwater, Florida, Betty (Alan) Young of Kearney, NE, and Aline (Jim) Kitten of Grand Island, NE. She is also survived by her nieces, Erika Cada of Blair, Heather (Nick) Dedermann of Norfolk, Alise (Adam) Verhage of Geneva, Jami (PJ) Smith of Grand Island, and 10 great-nieces and nephews.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents.