In Memoriam

In Memoriam

We honor the amazing lives of our Midland alumni, faculty and staff. To notify us of a death of a classmate or family member, please email alumni@midlandu.edu or call 402-941-6055.

Memorial Gifts

Gifts made in memory of a family member, teacher, student or friend are generous and thoughtful ways to remember a person's life and accomplishments. When making a gift in memory of someone, please send your gift with a note specifying the honoree's name and address and/or contact information so we can send a notification that a gift has been made. 

Please send memorial gifts to: Midland University, ATTN: Institutional Advancement, 900 N. Clarkson, Fremont, NE 68025, or make a gift online.

David Shaw

David Shaw

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
David H. Shaw, longtime owner of Nenana Heating Services and community advocate, died January 31, 2026, in Anchorage after a short illness. He was 82. He was born David Harrel Shaw Feb. 12, 1943 in Eureka, KS, to Wilson Harrel and Elizabeth Ruth Williams Shaw, the third of nine children. David grew...

Connie Tabler '66

Connie Tabler '66

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Connie Ann Tabler, 81, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Monday, February 2, 2026, at Meridian Gardens in Columbus. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus, with The Rev. Cory Burma officiating. Interment will be held in Zion Lutheran Grand...

Rev. Bob Kocher '51

Rev. Bob Kocher '51

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
The Reverend Robert Gale Kocher, age 98, of Fremont, Neb., died January 31, 2026. Born in Omaha, Neb., June 17, 1927, he is lovingly remembered by his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched throughout his life. During high school, Robert worked at a local florist, where his love of...

Honorable James Hansen '65

Honorable James Hansen '65

Thursday, February 5, 2026
Honorable James Thomas Hansen, a respected figure in the legal community and a cherished family member, passed away on December 14, 2025, in Fort Myers, Florida. He was born on May 27, 1943, to Norman and Eileen Hansen in Holdrege, Nebraska. James spent his early formative years on the family farm...

Greg Ryerson '75

Greg Ryerson '75

Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Greg L. Ryerson, Class of 1975, passed away in Augsburg, Germany on January 26, 2026, at age 72. While at Midland, Greg was a member of The Clef Dwellers for four years under Gene Nelson and graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management. After Graduation, he spent time in several locations in...

Jack Lewis '63

Jack Lewis '63

Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Jack Arlen Lewis, age 84, Holt, MO passed away January 17, 2026. He was born on December 17, 1941 to Howard Russell and Pearl Edith (Lohman) Lewis in North Kansas City, MO where he graduated from high school in 1959. He was an active Boy Scout earning his Eagle Scout and a member of the Tribe of...

Marilyn Julian '73

Marilyn Julian '73

Friday, January 9, 2026
Marilyn Pruss Julian, 96 of Fremont, Nebraska passed away Thursday, December 25, 2025 at Methodist Fremont Health. She was born September 1, 1929 on the family farm in rural Colfax County, NE to John and Agnes (Pospichal) Mlnarik. She attended grade school at North Star rural school and St...

Charles Diers

Charles Diers

Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Charles H. Diers, age 88, of Fremont, Nebraska, passed away Friday, January 2, 2026 at Nye Legacy in Fremont. Charlie was born on November 5, 1937, to Walter C. and Philomena C. (Rump) Diers in Fremont. He was united in marriage to Mary Lou Brooks on September 19, 1959, at St. Patrick Catholic...

Merlin Mortinson

Merlin Mortinson

Monday, January 5, 2026
Funeral Service for Merlin L. Mortinson age 78 of Norfolk, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at Grace Lutheran Church in Neligh, Nebraska. Burial will be in Danish Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by the Neligh American Legion Post #172 and VFW #5287. Visitation will be...

Sharon (Zike) Wahl '58

Sharon (Zike) Wahl '58

Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Sharon L. Wahl was born May 28, 1937 to Arthur an Emma Zike (Siemsen) and passed to God on December 22, 2025. Sharon graduated from Immanuel Nursing school and worked at Immanuel Hospital in multiple positions for 40 years, until she retired in 1998. She and her husband Gene were members of St...

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