Phyllis Jean Hauptmeier, 84, of Kearney (formerly of Overton) died peacefully at her home on December 2, 2023, surrounded by family.
Phyllis was born on May 5, 1939, in Creston, Iowa, to Elmer and Beatrice (Wycoff-Abbott) Hetland. She attended Creston Public Schools and graduated in 1957. She then went on to attend Creston Junior College, graduating in 1959. She finished her bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Northern Iowa, graduating in 1961.
On June 11, 1961 (three days after graduating from college) Phyllis married the love of her life, Larry Hauptmeier. Four children were blessed to this marriage: Becky, Tyler, Sara, and Beth. Over the years, they took in and cared for many children they considered “bonus children,” including Linda (Henry) Wade.
Their marriage began in Ames, Iowa, where Phyllis taught First Grade for three years and helped put Larry through veterinary school. After Larry graduated, they moved to Overton where Phyllis supported and assisted him in opening and operating the Overton Veterinary Clinic. She also was a substitute teacher in many area schools until she was 79 years old.
Throughout her life, Phyllis served as a leader in every organization she was a part of. Phyllis was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington, where she was active in many church organizations and functions. She was also very involved in many activities and organizations in her community of Overton. Some of her many clubs and associations include Overton School Board member and officer, PEO, extension club, bible study, Crossways leader, church altar guild and the Lutheran’s Women Missionary League (LWML). She was the director and a teacher at Trinity Lutheran Little Lamb Preschool. Phyllis was also a member and past president of the Auxiliary of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
One of the great passions of Phyllis’ life was teaching and learning. From her degree in education to her years as a teacher and substitute teacher to serving as a bible study leader, Phyllis always wanted to share knowledge with others.
Phyllis enjoyed entertaining and getting together with her wonderful friends from church and her community. She was always prepared and had an extra plate set at the table for spontaneous guests. Her other hobbies included reading, playing cards, sewing, cooking, traveling and genealogy. Phyllis and Larry traveled to all fifty states and six of the seven the continents; tracing her roots and visiting family in Norway was her favorite. She was happiest when surrounded by her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Phyllis was an exceptional mother, grandmother, and wife. She set a wonderful example of being a Faithful servant of the Lord, an active and caring member of her community, and a compassionate woman whose door was always open to those in need. Best of all, she was a model example of a family matriarch. She showed us how important spending time together creates lasting cohesiveness as a family.
Phyllis left many to cherish her memory: her husband of 62 years, Larry, sister Rosalind (Bob) Mulvany of Pleasanton, CA, daughters Becky (Jeff) Marshall of Elm Creek, Sara Theoharis of Hastings, Beth (Kirk) MacGregor of Grangeville, ID, son Tyler (Melissa) Hauptmeier of Doniphan, grandchildren Lacy (Adam) Brown, Hannah (Blake) Hild, Leah (Gavin) Kenney, Tasia, Nikos, and Demetri Theoharis, Keely and Max MacGregor, and great-grandchildren Marshall, Jaxon, Lily, Zeke, and William Brown, Weston and Adelynn Hild, and Brielle, Raelynn, and Reid Kenney and many nieces and nephews.
Phyllis is preceded in death by her parents, in-laws Fred and Martha Hauptmeier, brothers-in-law, Arlynn and Willard Hauptmeier, and sisters-in-law Marylyn Carlson and Darlene Hauptmeier, nephew Rod Hauptmeier and niece Terry Ricchio.
Funeral Services will be on Friday, December 8, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington with Pastor Rob Kuefner, officiating. The service will be live-streamed via the Trinity Lutheran Website: tlclex.org
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 7, 2023, from 5-7 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington.
Interment will be on Friday, December 8, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. at Overton Cemetery near Overton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are kindly suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Church or the Little Eagles Learning Center of Overton.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com