(Veteran)

Gladys M. “Molly” Kegler, 89

Gladys M. “Molly” Kegler, 89, of Herman, died Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001, at the Tekamah Health and Rehab Center, where she had resided for the past six year.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 19, at the Herman Community Church. Interment will be in the Herman Cemetery.

Gladys Maurine Kegler was born July 3, 1912 in LaPlata, Mo., to Eveert N. and Sarah Lenna Lowell Robuck. She was followed by her twin sister, Mildred Pauline “Polly”. She attended rural schools in Missouri and graduated from high school in LaPlata.

Both girls entered nurses training at the Kirksville State Teachers College, and graduated in 1934. They worked as registered nurses at St. Louis Maternity Hospital for several years.

Mrs. Kegler took public health courses at the University of Minnesota and became a school nurse in the Webster Groves, Mo., public schools. She left in 1942 and became a Second Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. She was discharged in 1946 after serving in England, and Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver, Colo.

A year in Alaska with the Alaska Native Service, working in hospitals in Skagway and Sitka, was spent before entering the University of Minnesota School of Anesthesia, where she graduated in 1948. She was on the staff at Midway Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., until recalled to active duty during the Korean War. She was stationed in Fort Belvior, Va., and was discharged in 1955 with the rank of Captain.

On Sept. 14, 1952, she married George W. Kegler, a Washington County farmer. They adopted three children, John, Tom and Ruth Elizabeth. Active in the Herman Methodist Church, Riverview Grange and school activities, Mrs. Kegler continued to work at the Dodge County Hospital in Fremont, until the Blair Memorial Community Hospital opened. She joined the staff in 1957 as the only anesthetist and served in that capacity until retirement in 1977.

After retiring, Mr. and Mrs. Kegler enjoyed camping and taking tours. They were able to revisit both Alaska and England.

She is survived by her children, John of Spring Grove, Minn., son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Kim of Herman and daughter and son-in-law, Ruth Elizabeth and Lewis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, three grandsons, three sisters-in-law, Dorothy Snyder of Mesa, Ariz., Ruth Kegler of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Jean Snyder of Carefree, Ariz., several nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her brother, Raymond, twin sister, Polly, and brother-in-law, Mark Kutzner.

Memorials are suggested for a nursing scholarship, and may be sent to Memorial Community Hospital, attn.: Bill Rasmussen, 810 N. 22nd St., Blair, NE, 68008.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair is in charge of arrangements.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~