Marcelyn M. Hurst

Gretna - Preceded in death by husband Thomas. Survived by children Rick (Iris), Ron (Roxanne), Kathy (Rich) Braesch, Tommy (Amy), Debbie (Steve) Barkley, Brenda (Jeff) Rudolph, 19 grandchildren & 11 great grandchildren, brother Larry Biel, family & friends.  

Our Mother’s soul left this earth November 16, 2024 surrounded by her family, knowing her work as a devoted farm wife, mother, grandmother, gardener, teacher and friend was accomplished.

Marcelyn Biel Hurst, 91, was born July 5, 1933 in Omaha and was raised southwest of Gretna on the farm with her parents Henry and Mildred (Krambeck) Biel, siblings Delmar, Larry and Janice. She attended District 12 country school until eighth grade and graduated from Gretna Public School. This pretty, redheaded cheerleader caught the eye of a handsome Gretna baseball player, Thomas J. Hurst, who she married on June 7, 1952 at St. Patrick’s Catholic church rectory in Gretna. A grand reception was held at her grandparents Fred & Sophia (Suhl) Krambeck’s home. She deeply loved her Grandmother Sophie. Our Mom and Dad were married 67 years when Dad passed away in 2020.

Tom and Marcy moved onto their farm place northeast of Gretna. The story was the farmhouse needed much work and had even flooded from the top story down during a torrential rainstorm, but it is here they built a home, farmed the ground, and raised their six children Rick, Ron, Kathy, Tom, Debbie and Brenda.

Mom attended Midland Lutheran College after high school and taught at the ‘Mowinkle’ District #31 country school while dad was in the service. We were so proud of mom when she returned to finish her teaching degree at UNO years later and was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority. She accomplished all this while still caring for her family and helping run the farm and take care of farm crews. Our brothers were always so happy to see mom come to the field with her amazing lunches. Some mornings, after preparing a huge breakfast of bacon, eggs, and oatmeal she would get a call to come to substitute teach at the Gretna Schools. We remember coming home off the school bus and mom would have ready for us her warm creamy rice with sugar and cinnamon on top.

Marcelyn was offered the teaching position at the one room ‘Bundy’ District #39 country school SW of Gretna in the late 70s. She had a handful of students during that time and she loved them like her 2nd family. Sometimes she would pack them into her car for various field trips such as the state capital. At one time, when the Platte River was beginning to flood, dad came to school to get them all out of harm’s way. Mom taught there until this, one of the last open country schools in the area, closed.

Mom and Dad would go on date nights and at first, we would have a babysitter, usually never to return again. Eventually we were older and left to ‘take care of each other’ which was no small feat. Mom had a pair of ceramic pheasants on the mantel over the fireplace. Each date they would have resulted in these pheasants taking a tumble, but we strategically placed glue on the broken piece, put back in place and back up on the mantel they would go. Not sure how many times or how much glue we used, but they still resembled pheasants. We thought we were clever, but I am sure she noticed and never said a word. We still laugh about those pheasants today.

Mom and Dad moved to a new home west of Gretna overlooking the Platte valley and where they both grew up, such a beautiful view which she would enjoy looking at on the deck with her daily cup of hot tea and making sure her bird feeders were full to watch the menagerie of blue birds, orioles and cardinals and a hummingbird feeder within arm’s length which when they approached for a drink, they knew mom was a trusted ally and would not be afraid.

Besides her family, her true love was her summer home in Phelps Mill Minnesota. A beautiful place on a lake with a large wooden deck with shade trees, her bird and hummingbird feeders. She loved when a pair of loons had a family, they knew moms’ home was a safe area they felt comfortable to swim around the dock. Mom would hop on her golf cart and round the corner in the park area and stop in at the Sugar Shack daily for an ice cream cone. She would often sit with the visiting grandkids on the store deck and watch the water flow over the dam and the tourists that happened by.

Marcelyn enjoyed her children – but most would agree that her grandchildren really had her heart. The love and appreciation for the small things were shared with us all. To know her, was to love her. And as we know, she’ll never truly be gone. 

Visitation Thursday (11/21/24) 4:00 – 6:30 pm with Vigil Service 6:30 PM at church. Funeral Service 10:00 AM Friday (11/22/24) at St. Patrick Catholic Church 508 Angus St. Gretna. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorials to the family to be determined later. 

Roeder Mortuary, Inc. - Gretna Chapel 11710 Standing Stone - Gretna, NE - 402-332-0090 www.RoederMortuary.com