Kathy Sterns
Kathy Sterns, age 81 of Benedict, died Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015 at York. She was born Nov. 10, 1933 to William (Doc) and Mae (Russell) Root at Brookwalter.
She grew up in Princeton raised by her Aunt Dorothy whom she called “mom.” She attended grade school in Princeton and graduated from Cortland High School in 1951. Upon graduation, she began working as a secretary for Woodmen Accident & Life in Lincoln. She was united in marriage to Robert Lewis (Lew) Sterns on Jan. 11, 1952 at Lincoln. To this union, two children were born, Robert and Cheryl.
Kathy was a member of Crounse Methodist Church and later, Malcolm Methodist Church where she was president of the women’s club for many years. Kathy and Lew lived and farmed near Malcolm until 1967 when they moved to a farm near Benedict where they continued to farm until retirement. Kathy was a long time member of the Benedict United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school for many years. She enjoyed being a homemaker, doing the bookkeeping for the farm, flowers and antiques, and mostly spending time with her family.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 63 years, Lew of Benedict; son, Robert (Tammy) Sterns of Benedict; daughter, Cheryl (Gary) Reetz of York; grandchildren, Travis (Brittany) Sterns of Livermore, Colo., Melissa Sterns of Atlanta, Ga., Todd (Patricia) Simonsen of York, Melanie (Shawn) Hansel of Lincoln and Justin Reetz of York; great-grandchildren, Mercedes Sterns of Austin, Texas, Devon Gerken of Stromsburg, Ashley Simonsen of York, Cadence and Hayden Sterns of Livermore, Colo. and Jovie Hansel of Lincoln. She is also survived by a sister, Shirley (William) Adams of Benton, La.; brother, Marvin (Karen) Root of Omaha; sister-in-laws, Loyola Root of Blue Springs, Phyllis Root of Crescent, Iowa, Bonnie Root of Norfolk, Loretta Sterns of Lincoln and many nieces and nephews; special friends and caretakers, Keisha Brown of Benedict and Kati Burres, Jackie Thompson, Andrea Hearn and Dee Magnussen, all of York and a very special little dog, Tuff.
She was preceded in death by her “mom”; her parents; four brothers, Jack, Bill, Delbert and Ronnie Root; two sisters and their husbands, Bernice and Earl McCollough and Maxine and Milton Husa and grandson Adam Simonsen.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015 at United Methodist Church in York. Graveside services will be held 2 p.m., Wednesday Aug. 12, 2015 at Oak Creek Cemetery in Raymond. Visitation will be from 1 - 9 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tuesday. Family will greet friends from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Memorials may be directed to the family for later destination.
Condolences may be emailed to Metz Mortuary Messages will be given to the family.
She grew up in Princeton raised by her Aunt Dorothy whom she called “mom.” She attended grade school in Princeton and graduated from Cortland High School in 1951. Upon graduation, she began working as a secretary for Woodmen Accident & Life in Lincoln. She was united in marriage to Robert Lewis (Lew) Sterns on Jan. 11, 1952 at Lincoln. To this union, two children were born, Robert and Cheryl.
Kathy was a member of Crounse Methodist Church and later, Malcolm Methodist Church where she was president of the women’s club for many years. Kathy and Lew lived and farmed near Malcolm until 1967 when they moved to a farm near Benedict where they continued to farm until retirement. Kathy was a long time member of the Benedict United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school for many years. She enjoyed being a homemaker, doing the bookkeeping for the farm, flowers and antiques, and mostly spending time with her family.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 63 years, Lew of Benedict; son, Robert (Tammy) Sterns of Benedict; daughter, Cheryl (Gary) Reetz of York; grandchildren, Travis (Brittany) Sterns of Livermore, Colo., Melissa Sterns of Atlanta, Ga., Todd (Patricia) Simonsen of York, Melanie (Shawn) Hansel of Lincoln and Justin Reetz of York; great-grandchildren, Mercedes Sterns of Austin, Texas, Devon Gerken of Stromsburg, Ashley Simonsen of York, Cadence and Hayden Sterns of Livermore, Colo. and Jovie Hansel of Lincoln. She is also survived by a sister, Shirley (William) Adams of Benton, La.; brother, Marvin (Karen) Root of Omaha; sister-in-laws, Loyola Root of Blue Springs, Phyllis Root of Crescent, Iowa, Bonnie Root of Norfolk, Loretta Sterns of Lincoln and many nieces and nephews; special friends and caretakers, Keisha Brown of Benedict and Kati Burres, Jackie Thompson, Andrea Hearn and Dee Magnussen, all of York and a very special little dog, Tuff.
She was preceded in death by her “mom”; her parents; four brothers, Jack, Bill, Delbert and Ronnie Root; two sisters and their husbands, Bernice and Earl McCollough and Maxine and Milton Husa and grandson Adam Simonsen.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015 at United Methodist Church in York. Graveside services will be held 2 p.m., Wednesday Aug. 12, 2015 at Oak Creek Cemetery in Raymond. Visitation will be from 1 - 9 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tuesday. Family will greet friends from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Memorials may be directed to the family for later destination.
Condolences may be emailed to Metz Mortuary Messages will be given to the family.