Marian L. Kerr

Hastings resident Marian L. Kerr, 95, died at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings on May 2, 2025.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 12, at Peace Lutheran Church in Hastings with Rev. Micah Gaunt officiating, immediately following a 12:30 p.m. luncheon. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Sunday, May 11, at Peace Lutheran Church. Marian’s family requests that in lieu of flowers, interested persons might consider donating to the Hastings YMCA (where Marian took part in a water exercise class well into her 90s) or the Hastings YWCA (whose programs she enjoyed over the years). Other donations to the Mary Lanning Healthcare Foundation would be appropriate memorials for Marian, given her longstanding service at Mary Lanning. 

Born on March 17, 1930, she was the daughter of Fern and Albert Schmidt of rural Shelton. Many times over the years, Marian referred to herself as “just a country girl from Shelton, NE.” That country girl went on to lead a remarkable life in which caring for others--whether personally or professionally--served as a dominant theme. Marian raised two cherished daughters, Ruth and Mary, while running a household and balancing a demanding career as a nurse. Outside of her professional positions as a nurse, she served as a trusted caregiver for other relatives. In her years as a retiree, Marian continued to provide her expanding family and friends with an enduring example of how to treat others with dignity, respect, and love.

Marian’s nursing roots took hold when she entered the Mary Lanning School of Nursing at the age of 17. Looking back on how her life unfolded (sometimes in unexpected ways), Marian said she was fortunate to have had a father who believed in higher education for his daughters even when some of his fellow farmers questioned the wisdom of spending money to educate girls. The educational expenditures paid off, with Marian embarking on a nursing career that lasted roughly 40 years at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital (often called “Grandma’s Hospital” by her grandchildren). She was very good at it, rising through various ranks as a floor nurse and eventually serving as Director of Nurses. Marian held the latter position for 14 years—a testament to her leadership skills, sound judgment, and commitment to fairness. In her nursing roles, she helped an enormous number of people.

Marian was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Delores Yocum and Judy Resh; and brother Dale Schmidt.

Marian is survived by her daughters, Ruth (Alan) Mytty of Champaign, IL and Mary (Arlen) Langvardt of Bloomington, IN; six grandchildren, Jamon (Stacy) Mytty of Wilmette, IL, Allison (Alex) Ponce de Leon of San Francisco, CA, Erin (John) Murray of Indianapolis, IN, Sarah (Cole) Mendenhall of Phoenix, AZ, Kyle Langvardt (Emmalyn Helge) of Lincoln, NE, and Tara (Ethan) Linkner of Ann Arbor, MI; 13 great-grandchildren, Simon, Stella, Sawyer and Sadie Mytty, Sofia and Tomás Ponce de Leon, Penelope and Teddy Murray, Gigi and Ty Mendenhall, Owen Langvardt, and Annie and Jay Linkner; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.