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.

Rev. John M. Leaf L'58

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Rev. John Martin Leaf, 82, of Moline, passed away on January 5th, 2021, at home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be 11 am Monday, January 11, 2021 at Augustana Lutheran Church in Andover, IL, where his father had been a minister. Due to capacity limitations the funeral will be live-...

Gail F. Searcey '71

Monday, January 4, 2021

Gail F. Searcey, age 71 of Auburn, passed away Monday, December 28, 2020 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln. Survivors include his sons and grandsons Dustin and sons Cash and Covey of Omaha, Chad and sons Slayton and Stone of Kansas City, MO; brothers Max (Patty) Searcey of Marysville, KS, L.G. (...

Marilyn Barber '61

Monday, December 21, 2020

Marilyn Barber was born November 18, 1939 in Aurora, Nebraska and died December 21, 2020 at Lakeside Hospital. Proceeded in death by mother and father Maurice and Iola Lantzer, sister Carol Dyck. Survived by husband of 59 years, Russell Barber. Her children Sonya, Stan (Theresa), Kent (Tari), Jay (...

Eugene "Gene" Starmer '70

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Eugene “Gene” Dale Starmer was born on June 18th, 1948 in Fremont, NE to Dale and Geraldine (Shriver) Starmer. He was also welcomed into the family by his big sister Pat. Growing up in Fremont Gene was involved in Boy Scouts, baseball, basketball, football, Methodist Youth Fellowship, and a member...

Joan E. Grieb '57

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Preceded in death by parents, Joseph and Freda Fitzsimmons; brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Lee Fitzsimmons; sister, Betty Fitzsimmons; and son, David Grieb. Survived by husband, Fred D. Grieb; daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Dr. Jeff Nielsen; son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Lanae Grieb;...

Mary Olsen '59

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Our beloved Mary Olsen, age 82, passed into Heaven on Dec. 5, 2020, at Select Specialty Hospital in Omaha. She was born Jan. 9, 1938, in Fremont, Nebraska, and graduated from Fremont Sr. High School in 1957, then graduated from Immanuel College of Nursing in Omaha. She was a longtime Charge Nurse...

Charles Boomhower '69

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Charles Ezra Boomhower (January 15, 1947 - November 30, 2020). Son of Cecelia (Prespare) and Everett Boomhower, he grew up in Cropseyville, NY. He graduated from Tamarac High School and, with the support of a scholarship for Eagle Scouts, attended Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska. He...

Patience Keisler '52

Monday, December 7, 2020

Patience Catherine Weidt Keisler, loving wife, supportive mother, encouraging grandmother and great-grandmother, died November 29, 2020 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was 93, a native of Westchester County, New York, residing in Baton Rouge since 1959. Educated in the public schools of Mount Vernon...

Arlene Weaver

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Arlene Rose Weaver 89, Lincoln, former teacher and college professor, died Wednesday, Nov. 25, in Lincoln. She was born in Milligan and was a 1948 of Milligan High School, valedictorian of her class. Taught rural schools in Saline County and later received her bachelor and masters' degrees in...

Patricia Montgomery '61

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Patricia Ann Montgomery, age 80, passed away November 28, 2020 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on January 28, 1940 to the late Earl and Elnora (Leidig) Johnson. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1958. She married John Raymond Montgomery on June 25, 1961...