Valerie J. Kuehn

Valerie Jean Kuehn, Lincoln, passed away on December 22, 2020.  She was born in Fairbury, Nebraska on March 23, 1941 to Charles E. and Doraline Ridnour Churchill.

Valerie graduated from Fairbury High School in 1959, and then attended Fairbury Junior College where she received a diploma in elementary education in 1961. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education in 1963 from Nebraska Wesleyan University, and went on to receive her master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1980.

Valerie’s passion was teaching.  Her career started in 1963 in the Lincoln Public School system where she taught first grade. In March of 1964 she married Gary R. Greeness and moved to New Orleans, Louisiana where she also taught first grade in the New Orleans school system. Upon returning to Nebraska, she served as school director for Mary Moppets Daycare in the 1970s. The schools she served in Nebraska, in addition to Lincoln Public Schools, included Independent School District #69 in Fairbury, a one-room school house where she taught all subjects for grades K-8; Fairbury Public Schools, where she taught first grade; and the Cathedral of the Risen Christ School in Lincoln where she served as middle school science teacher from 1982 until her retirement in 2016.  In her role as science teacher, she organized and directed the annual Cathedral Science Fair for grades seven and eight.

Valerie was a lifetime learner, and over the years, took advantage of continuing education opportunities . She studied Human Relations at Union College, and also participated in the Nebraska Writing Project sponsored by the University of Nebraska.

Valerie was a gifted artist and used these talents in painting, drawing, and design.  She also was a certified Scuba diver and enjoyed this activity as well as collecting seashells.  She spent time in the Caribbean, including the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, and her favorite spot, Key West, Florida.

Valerie’s memberships included the Daughters of the Nile, Naphis Temple #66, and the Order of the Eastern Star Temple Chapter #271, which she joined more than 50 years ago.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles E. and Doraline Churchill, and her brother Randolph C. Churchill.  She is survived by her husband, James B. Kuehn, son Barrett R. Greeness, Lincoln, step-daughters Kimberly K. Kuehn and Jami L. Petersen, both of Lincoln, and step-grandchildren, Keleigh Ketelhut, and Owen, Ellie and Ansli Petersen.  She is also survived by two sisters, Janis E. (Thomas) Mitchell, Crete, Nebraska, and Deborah E. (Gregory) Eitzmann, Republic, Kansas, and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at the Fairbury Cemetery. Memorials will go to the Fairbury Cemetery or United Methodist Church.  Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.