Valdean W. "Val" Kershner

Hastings resident Valdean W. “Val” Kershner, 85, passed away Thursday, February 29, 2024, in Goodyear, AZ.    

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16, at First United Methodist Church in Hastings with Rev. Lance Clay officiating. Burial will be at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation with the family present will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 15, at the funeral home, and one hour before the service at the church. In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Val’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page. 

Val was born May 28, 1938, in rural Nuckolls County, NE to Cecil and Viola (Kubicek) Kershner. He was the third of five children. He was born on the family farm where he grew up until the family moved to Davenport. He graduated from Davenport High School in 1955. Val met the love of his life and married Elaine Minnick on November 12, 1955, and to this marriage, four children were born: Kevin Wayne, Rochelle “Shelly” Elaine, Darla Ann, and Joel Dean. They were married for 68 wonderful years!

Val did many things during the course of his life. After his marriage, he joined Elaine in Hastings and worked in construction. After leaving construction he worked for Omar Bakeries and eventually took on a bread and baked goods route of his own. The opportunity came along for him to go to work for Supreme Bakers, later bought out by Keebler Cookie Company, where he started his career with them as a delivery driver working his way up to management. After 22 years of service, Keebler made the decision to close the location in Hastings. Rather than uproot his family and move with the company he took on a job with Moorman Feed Company as a salesman. He loved to visit with his customers and take care of a little business at the same time. It was not uncommon for him to jump in and help his customers with chores which is why his territory flourished. On November 12, 1984, he made the decision to open his own business and purchased what would become known as Kershner’s Auto Korner where he was still working at the time of his death. As a “hobby,” he also owned and maintained several rentals in Hastings. 

Val was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hastings. He was very active in the Citizens With A Voice and was passionate about the Nebraska Independent Auto Dealers Association (NEIADA). 

Val’s faith, family, and friends meant the world to him. He is preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Viola (Kubicek) Kershner; brothers, Gordon and Cecil Kershner; and sisters, Elvira Schnakenberg and Connie Price. 

SURVIVORS:

Wife:                                       
    Elaine Kershner – Hastings, NE
Children & Spouses:              
    Kevin & Julie Kershner – Kearney, NE

    Rochelle “Shelly” Kershner & Roger Vanek – Goodyear, AZ

    Darla & Brad Quackenbush – Broken Bow, NE

    Joel & Tami Kershner – Hastings, NE
Grandchildren & Spouses:    
    Brandon & Cara Kershner – Dallas, TX

    Jordan & Lauren Kershner – Malcolm, NE

    Courtney & Jake Richardson – Aurora, NE

    Kaleigh & Jon Berghorst – Broken Bow, NE

    Seth Quackenbush – Elkhorn, NE
    Carson Quackenbush – Kearney, NE

    Matilyn “Matti” Kershner – Hastings, NE

    Grady Kershner – Lincoln, NE
    Logan Kershner – Hastings, NE
    Owen & Felicity Kershner – Lincoln, NE
Great-Grandchildren:             
    5 and 1 due in August of 2024
Numerous Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins