Donnabelle M. Gerhardt

Donnabelle M. Gerhardt was born April 14, 1931, in Fairbury, NE to John and Marie Knobel. She went home on February 17, 2022.

She grew up in Fairbury, NE, where she attended East Ward school and graduated from Fairbury High School in 1949. During this time, she was highly active in girl scouts, where she eventually became a co-leader for the brownie scouts. She had a love for music, and began piano & clarinet lessons at grades sixth and fifth, respectively. Her love for music led to a spot on the High School band.

Additionally, her love for music allowed for her to attend multiple musical contests & band contests – she played in a clarinet quartet in high school as well. She was selected to attend one of Nebraska’s all-state music contests which lasted two summers.

It was during the Plymouth band concert when she met her husband to be, Robert H. Gerhardt of Plymouth, NE. After a brief courtship they were married August 13, 1950 at the Methodist Church in Fairbury, NE.

To this union were born two daughters:  Diana Kay (Gerhardt) Worm in 1951 and Julie Mae (Gerhardt) Parker in 1954.

Throughout Donnabelle’s adult life, she has always had a desire to help others, either professionally or personally. She worked for Starr-Buckow Insurance for 25 years as an Office Manager & Bookkeeper.  She was a life member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, Rock Creek Quilters Guild, and Genealogy Society. She has been a co-chairperson of Easter seals, has served as the Grace Lutheran Church congregation secretary, Grace Lutheran Pastor’s secretary, Vacation Bible School Teacher, Member & Officer of Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS), member of Fraternal Order of Job’s Daughters, ’23 Preservation Foundation Board Member, and a volunteer to sew quilt tops together for Orphan Grain Train.

Her hobbies included reading, sewing, and quilting. When she and her husband had their cabin at Lovewell Lake, she enjoyed fishing and boating as well.  Family often joked that she had a “lucky pole:” and whomever was fortunate to fish with it was sure to catch a big fish.

She most enjoyed visits from family and was proud to be a grandma and great-grandma.

She is survived by her daughter Diana and husband Roy Worm of Fairbury, daughter Julie and husband Wayne Parker of Fairbury, granddaughter Kristen and husband David Schmehl of Martell, grandson Brian Worm and girlfriend Rachel Reves of Harrison, AR, granddaughter Sara Hyman and boyfriend Rob Barton of Fairbury, grandson Nick Dean and wife Shaunte, and grandson Matthew Dean and wife Rachel; great granddaughter Sydney Dean, great grandson and great granddaughter Dominick and Kayleigh Schmehl, great grandson Brayden Worm, great grandson Brandon Dean, great grandson Zachery Barton and great grandson Solomon Dean.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Marie Knobel, her late husband, Robert H. Gerhardt, and her great grandson, Dominic Dean.

Services will be Monday, February 21, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairbury. The family will greet friends on Sunday afternoon from 2 – 4 at the funeral home.  Memorials will go to Grace Lutheran Church, Quilting Guild and Nebraska Polio Survivors Assoc. P. O. Box 6076, Omaha, NE 68106. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com