Doris M. Maurer

June 13, 1929 - November 10, 2021

Doris Mae Maurer, 92 of Kearney passed away Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at First Lutheran Church in Kearney with Rev. Dr. Michelle Holley Carlson and Rev. Dr. Rick Carlson officiating. The service will also be live streamed through the church website https://firstlutherankearney.org/watch-live/ Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, November 15, 2021 at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Memorials are suggested to First Lutheran Church or Peterson Senior Activity Center. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Doris was born June 13, 1929 in Hardy, Nebraska to Christian and Esther (Hansen) Pedersen. She received her education in Hardy, NE graduating with the class of 1946. After graduation, she earned her normal school license and taught at several one room schools in Nuckolls County. On August 5, 1955, Doris was united in marriage to Lyle Maurer in Worthington, MN. She attended Kearney State Teachers College for 8 summers, while teaching school in the winter. She earned her BA in Education and English in 1958. Doris also taught in Pleasanton and Plattsmouth, NE and substitute taught in the Kearney Public Schools system. In 2019, she was honored by the University of Nebraska/UNK, for her outstanding work as a One Room, One Teacher. Upon retiring from teaching in 1975, she then worked for JCPenney Company until her retirement in 1994. She then volunteered for the Good Samaritan Hospital for 20 years. Doris was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church where she was active in Gloria Circle. She was a past member of the American Legion Auxiliary, past president of VFW Auxiliary, and D.O.E.S. Doris was also a member of the Danish Brotherhood of America and Kensington Club, Wildlife Club and a lifetime member of Alpha Delta Kappa. She was a very active board member with the Kearney Hospitality Senior Center and was instrumental in raising funds and establishing what is now the Peterson Senior Activity Center. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Cynthia (Ed) Luhn of Kearney; son, Mark (Carla) Maurer of Doniphan; grandchildren, Nathan (Laura) Luhn of Grand Island, Nicholas (Sierra) Luhn of Lincoln, Ashley (Tyler) Bell of Lincoln, Heath (Taylor) Maurer of Lincoln; 6 great grandchildren; sister-in-Law, Loetta Pedersen of Superior; and a special cousin Judy Schrock of Elm Creek; as well as many extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle Maurer; brothers Joe, Marion, Ralph, and Kenneth Pedersen; and sister, Betty Lou Alderman.