KAREN HAYS
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Karen (Lerdall) Hays will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Kenton Birtell officiating.
An inurnment will be held at 2:00 p.m at the Elwood Cemetery, Elwood, Nebraska.
Karen (Lerdall) Hays, 77 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on November 29, 2024, at her home with her daughters by her side. Karen was born on September 1, 1947 in Lexington, Nebraska to Glenn and Dorothy (Pittenger) Lerdall. She grew up with her two brothers on the family farm three miles southwest of Elwood.
She attended Pleasant Hill School through 4th grade then went to Elwood Elementary and graduated from Elwood High School in 1965.
After high school she attended Grand Island School of Business and earned a one year degree. In 1971, she was united in marriage to Larry Remmenga and they had two daughters, Teresa and Mindi. They owned and operated Remmenga Oil Co. together until 1990 when they divorced. In 1999 she married Bill Hays which later ended in divorce.
Karen loved being a mom to her daughters and stayed very involved in their lives.
She was very happy with the arrival of her five grandchildren and enjoyed spoiling them and being a part of their lives. In later years she spoiled her grand dogs with plenty of treats and kisses.
She loved to cook, bake, sew and to take care of her yard. She never outgrew the country. Every spring she always enjoyed seeing baby calves, wildlife roaming the hills and the spring rains that made the earth smell fresh and new.
In 2006, she sold her home of 35 years in Elwood and moved to Kearney to be closer to family. In 2011, she moved to Holdrege where she remained until her death. She was a member of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege.
She was preceded in death by her parents Glenn and Dorothy; brother Dennis and his wife Lila; niece Kathryn Lerdall; cousin Dianna Krumme; maternal and paternal grandparents; and many aunts and uncles.
Karen is survived by her daughters: Teresa (Jeff) Moore, and Mindi Young; five grandchildren: Madelyn and Jaren Moore; and Noah, Aidan and Collin Young, all of Holdrege; brother, Terry (Susie) Lerdall of Elwood; three nieces: Jen Austin, daughters and special family friend, Angela Farber of Frisco, TX; Jodi Lerdall and daughters of Elwood; and Heidi (Shawn) Church and daughters of Lexington; her beloved grand dogs Gizmo and Emmy; special friend of the family, Koby (Rifka) Quintana of Holdrege; lifelong friend of 66 years, Vicki Vinzant of Shelton, Nebraska; special friend and caregiver, Christy Pelton of Bertrand, NE; along with numerous other relatives and friends.
There will not be visitation, viewing, or memorial book signing the evening prior to the service. The family has honored her wish for cremation.
A memorial has been established in Karen’s honor, and kindly suggested to the family for future designation.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at HYPERLINK “http://www.nelsonbauerfh. com” www.
nelsonbauerfh.com The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.
