Marlene Kaelin

Marlene Kaelin age 86 of Broken Bow died Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Brookestone View Care Home in Broken Bow.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow with Pastor Dean Millsap officiating.  The burial will follow in the Westerville Cemetery.  A visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 8, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM with the family greeting friends 6:00-7:00 PM at Govier Brothers.  Memorials are suggested to the Westerville Cemetery or the Ansley Methodist Church.   Online condolences can be left at   www.govierbrothers.com

Marlene Sue Moseley was born June 27, 1937, to C. Erven and Anna (Fox) Moseley at their farm home in Bethel Union, six miles northeast of Broken Bow, Nebraska.   The family also lived in the communities of Dutchman Valley, where Marlene began first grade at the age of four, and Rose Valley east of Broken Bow.  Marlene loved school and enjoyed playing with classmates and friends.  Her parents purchased and moved to a farm west of Westerville in 1945.  She continued her education at Westerville, graduating from Westerville High School in 1954 at the age of 16.  She often referred to her high school years as containing some of her favorite memories.   The friendships made there have lasted a lifetime.

Marlene accepted the Lord into her life and was baptized while in high school at the Westerville Methodist Church which she attended until its closure.  She then transferred her membership to the Ansley United Methodist Church.  She read her Bible and her devotions regularly.  During hard times, she spent a lot of time in prayer and her mantra was “One Day at a Time.”

After high school graduation, her love for education and young children led her to attend summer school at Kearney Teacher’s College.  She earned a certificate that allowed her to teach the following fall in the lower elementary grades at Westerville Grade School.   She taught there for three years.

On July 16, 1957, she married Dean H. Kaelin at the Ansley Methodist Church, and their first home was north of Westerville.  She then taught in the Copsey School District for two more years.   Marlene loved the pure, honest hearts of the little children.  

Their first son, Gerald Scott was born in 1960 while they lived north of Westerville.   The family moved to Fremont where their second son, Gordon Lee was born in 1966 on her birthday!  Later that year, this family of four returned to Westerville to help Marlene’s parents on the farm.  Marlene cared for her parents, taking them to medical appointments and providing for their needs.  

Her calling was that she was an excellent daughter, wife, mother, homemaker, and friend.   Although she would never admit it, she was a wonderful hostess and cook.  She loved sending and receiving greeting cards.  Choosing just the right gift was important to her because she was a generous giver. 

Organizations in which she was active were the Westerville and Ansley Methodist Churches, Ansley FFA Mothers, and she served on the Westerville Township Election Board for many years.

She enjoyed her part-time job as the Westerville Grade School Custodian for twenty-four years. 

Friends were important to Marlene whether they were the post office morning group, bowling club, coffee gals, or later, bingo buddies. Grandma Marlene followed the grandkids’ activities at school and at the fair.  She valued education and encouraged her grandkids by writing to each of them and sending money when they were attending college.  Her refrigerator was always covered with family photos.

After Dean’s death, Marlene moved to Off Broadway in Broken Bow and lived there six years.  She so loved the staff and made many more friends.  Marlene was pleased that the expanded farm continues to be operated by third and fourth generations and she remained active in financial decisions.  

Marlene is survived by; son Scott and Denise (Stunkel) Kaelin of Westerville; son Gordon and Jana (Storms) Kaelin of Broken Bow; grandchildren Joel (Becky Pohl) Kaelin of DeWitt; Nicole (Brice) King of Humphrey, Holly (Dustin) Oligmueller of Atkinson; Court Kaelin of Sumner (fiancé Emily Kimball), Frazier Kaelin of Broken Bow, and great-grandchildren Aiden, Macie and Sadie Kaelin of DeWitt; Eli and Emersyn King of Humphrey; Reagan Oligmueller of Atkinson; sister-in-law Geraldine Kulhanek; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.   Marlene was preceded in death by her husband, parents, parents-in-law Joe and Florence Kaelin; sister and brothers-in-law Delores (Kaelin) and Mike Prociw, and Lowell Kulhanek, and great-granddaughters Gracie and Adeline Kaelin.  

Marlene was looking forward to attending the wedding of her grandson Court and Emily and the birth of great-grandson Oligmueller in June.