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Merry Van Der Hart and daughter Esther Van Der Hart, of rural Herman, passed away February 17, 2023. Service will be held for Merry and Esther on Saturday, February 25 at Anbe Events in Herman beginning with a visitation from 11 AM to 1 PM, a formal service starting at 1 PM, and followed by burial in the Herman Cemetery. A luncheon also be held at the event center following the burial. Visitation will also be held on Friday, February 24 at the Anbe Events from 5 to 8 PM. Donations for the luncheon of dessert bars and cookies are welcome and appreciated.

Merry Van Der Hart was born in Madison, Wisconsin to Brian and Ronni Gillaspie on March 27th, 1993. They lived for a time in Gays Mills and then Boscobel, WI were Merry graduated high school as Valedictorian. It was also while at Boscobel at the age of 15, that Merry trusted in The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation at about 11:30 a.m. on March 22, 2008. The fruitfulness of her life after, was notable indeed. She went on to get a bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College in Waverley, Iowa with a chemistry and education major and physics minor. Much to the delight of her future husband, the Lord led her in her career search to Harlan, Iowa where he could more conveniently get to know her. There she taught physics, physical science, and chemistry.

She was united in marriage to Gabriel Van Der Hart on August 12, 2017, and they resided in Elkhorn, Nebraska for a time, before moving to the Herman area. To this union were born three children: John, Daniel, and Esther and one unborn son Timothy Azariah.

She passed into eternity to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on February 17, 2023, as the result of an auto accident.

Merry’s life was a story of kindness, love, and care for others that glowed more-so since her moment of salvation. It is impossible with ink and paper and a few paragraphs to tell the story of the beautiful young woman, wife, mother, and friend that Merry became. Whether age 9, 19, or 29 Merry had a special way about her. She took her abilities, strengths, and desire to excel into whatever circumstances she was in, and she simply - loved. As a young girl, she would gently pat her mom or dad’s arm and say, “It be OK”. When slightly older, she poured out her gentle and consistent nurturing care on her horse; and as she grew, her two brothers were so well taken care of that the younger of the two would occasionally be known to “slip and call her mom”. Indeed, during her summer research position at North Dakota State, college roommates in North Dakota referred to her as “Mama Merry.” As an honor student in college, she actually said “Dad, it’s so neat; I can see three dimensional objects in my head when I look at a calculus equation.” And although she excelled academically herself, her true joy as a teacher was to “see the light bulb come on” in her students eyes and minds.

Her interest in research and desire to excel would also manifest in her gardening, where she would look into all the different varieties of tomatoes, beans, etc., and determine which one might work best for what she had. Her husband sometimes would affectionately joke with her and say - “Darling, if we were to plant everything you wanted to try, we would need a 50-acre garden”.

Reading her bible was a daily routine; and perhaps the thing that will be missed most by her husband, will be the many conversations they had when they would share with each other what they had read in the Bible that morning. She would also often strike up a conversation with other sisters in Christ that were about her, asking where they had read and what they had enjoyed in it; sharing what she had also appreciated. Many times, after a bible study or teaching meeting she would share how something that had been brought out reminded her of, or linked with, what she had been reading that morning. She will be dearly missed by all that knew her.

On May 14th, 2022, Esther Dorothy was born to Gabriel and Merry, adding to the number of their growing family. She grew as a healthy young girl until the time she also passed with her mother into the presence of the lord on February 17th, 2023, at the age of 9 months. The brightness she brought by her little feminine presence, through her bright blue eyes, big smile, soft high baby chatter, and sweet laugh will be greatly missed.

In Merry’s womb is their unborn son, Timothy Azariah, who also passed into the presence of the Lord on February 17th, 2023. In lieu of flowers, that family asks that cards and memorials be sent to Campbell Aman Funeral Home or brought to the services.

#2-Posted Friday, February 24, 2023 Enterprise Media Group- and published in the Pilot-Tribune February 28, 2023

By Cheyenne Alexis

Following a fatal accident on Feb. 17 that took the lives of Merry Van Der Hart and her daughter, Esther, and unborn son, Timothy, the Herman and Washington County community have joined together to assist the family.

The crash occurred Feb. 17 in the 1700 block of County Road 15. A vehicle was located off the roadway in a creek bed, with four people inside.

Gabe and Merry Van Der Hart's two sons, John and Daniel, survived the crash, though were sent to the hospital with various injuries.

A GoFundMe was started by Priscilla Frazier, Merry's sister-in-law and Gabe's sister.

According to an update on Feb. 22, John, 4, was released from the hospital following surgery from a broken leg. Daniel, 2, will remain hospitalized for two to three more weeks, after a surgery to repair bone breaks in both legs, arm and collarbone. He may need an additional surgery for other injuries sustained.

Since Feb. 20, when the fundraiser was created, the family's $30,000 has surpassed $33,000 as of Feb. 24.

In an interview with the Enterprise, Frazier said she and her family were "touched" by the outpour of support.

"The communities of Blair, Herman, Elkhorn and many more have been incredibly supportive and sympathetic since Friday's unexpected tragedy," she said. "Merry was a stay-at-home mother, very devoted to her family. The changes brought about as a result of the accident have been and will be enormous, and the desire is that Gabe have time and financial freedom to work through all that is ahead of him. The GoFundMe is just one option made available to those who want to give financially.

"The generosity being shown there is astounding. We know there are other individuals and locations that have and are contributing financially, and it is so appreciated. The hands-on support, doing whatever needs done, has been amazing. Our sincerest thanks to everyone. Finally, most important are the countless prayers being sent up from loving hearts that hurt and care along with us."

Additionally, the Herman Community Club is also holding a local fund drive for the Van Der Hart family.

"With the devastation of the situation, we knew we needed to help somehow," said Tiffany McAndrew, president of the Herman Community Club. "I know it's not going to bring the family back, but I hope it'll take the stress off the family."

Funds can be mailed to Herman Community Club, P.O. Box 125, Herman, Neb., 68029. Checks should be made payable to Herman Community Club with a note of Van Der Hart in the memo.

There are also donation jars at the Petersen Bar and Jiffy Shop. They were also available during the Herman fish fry on Friday.

Merry, Esther and Timothy's service will be held Feb. 25 at Anbe Events in Herman.

Merry's personal relationship with God was the most important part of her life, and she had complete confidence that when her life was over, she would be in heaven," Frazier said. "For Merry and Esther and little unborn Timothy, the best has just begun."

#3 #2 Funeral leaflet

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In Loving Memory

Merry Marie Van Der Hart

March 27th ~ February 17, 2023

Esther Dorothy Van Der Hart

May 14th, 2022 ~ February 17th, 2023

Timothy Azariah Van Der Hart

(unborn son)

Greeting; Opening Prayer; Congregational Singing of "Come Thou Fount". Obituary: Justin Meader. Song, "Living By Faith". Gospel Message: Greg Cliff. Congregational Singing of Immanuel's Land ("The Sands Of Time"). Closing Prayer.

Graveside service: Herman Cemetery, directly following funeral. Meal: Anbe Events Center, following interment

Pallbearers: Nathan Gillaspie, Christian Gillaspie, Nicholas Olson, Daris Olson, Zachary Wood, Silas Meader

Honorary Pallbearers: Levi Van Der Hart, Josiah Van Der Hart, Issac Meader

~~~Obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #249741571