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 Stephen
D. O'Brien - Stephen graduated from Longfellow High School in Kearney in 1958 and has
a bachelor of Arts degree from the University of NE in Lincoln. After
attending Kearney State Teachers College and The San Francisco College of
Mortuary Science he began his career as a Funeral Director and Embalmer.
In 1994 he went into partnership with Gary Straatmann and purchased the
Nielsen-Godberson Funeral Home in Kearney.
Stephen was born on a farm north of Gibbon and grew up in Grand Island and
Kearney. He is married to Lori L. McCammon also a Kearney native and has a
daughter Lori Strnot of Lincoln, NE. He is a member of First United
Methodist Church in Kearney., Tehama Shrine, Scottish Rite of Hastings,
Rob Morris Masonic Lodge #54 A.F. and A. M., Jesters, Kearney Elks Lodge
#984, Kearney Noon Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce Colonels and is Associate
Guardian of Jobs Daughters Bethel #6 of Kearney.
Contact Steve
 Gary
M. Straatmann - A native of Kearney, NE, Gary Straatmann graduated
from Kearney State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Broadcasting. He
later obtained his mortuary science degree from Kansas City Kansas Community
College. He and Steve O’Brien purchased Godberson Mortuary in 1994. Gary is a
member of First Lutheran Church in Kearney, board member of Kearney Noon Rotary,
president of Kearney Concert Association, past co-fund drive chairperson of the
Kearney United Way, Kearney Elks Lodge, 1733 Barbershop Chorus, Salvation Army
Advisory Board, Rob Morris Lodge #54 A.F. & A.M, 32 nd degree and the Tehama
Shrine. He also serves on the board of directors of the Buffalo County
Historical Society. He is married to Stephanie (Dlouhy). They have four
children; Alex, Katie, Joseph and Abby.
Contact Gary
Jodi Hyde -
Jodi is a native of Nebraska.
Mrs. Hyde received her nursing degree from Omar Gibson Nursing School at
Reed Springs, Missouri. She was a 2005 graduate of the Arapahoe Community
College, Littleton, CO with a degree in mortuary science. She is a
licensed funeral director at our funeral home.
She is a member of the Kearney E-Free Church in Kearney. She is a member
of the Kearney Elks Lodge #984.
She and her husband, reside in Riverdale. They have three sons,
Michael, Branson and and Alec.
Contact Jodi
 Taylor
J. Redinger – Apprentice/Funeral
Director. Taylor is a native of Phillipsburg, Kansas. He graduated
Phillipsburg High School in 2006. Taylor attended Hastings College
before obtaining a degree in Mortuary Science from Kansas City
Kansas Community College. He is a member of the Assembly of God
Church. Taylor and his fiancée, Lindsey Grauerholz are planning a
June 2011 wedding in Kearney. His pastimes include golf, hunting and
running.
Contact
Taylor
 Mary
Bowman,
CSW -
Mary leads our grief support group which meets at
6:00pm, the first Wednesday of every month. She is a social worker with
Good Samaritan Home Care. She is also the RCIA Director at St. Jame's
Catholic Church in Kearney. She grew up on a farm near David City, NE
She graduated from Kearney Sate College in 1983.
Her family includes her
husband, Mark and 4 children who attend UNO and Kearney Catholic High
School.
Contact Mary
 Carol
Snodgrass - Administrative assistant.
Carol is a native of Oxford, NE and graduated from Oxford High School.
She attended Kearney State College, graduating with a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Business Education. She joined the staff at O’Brien –
Straatmann Funeral Home in 1994, when Stephen and Gary purchased the
business.
She and her husband, Andy, have two children, Sara and Daniel, and 5
grandchildren, all living in Kearney.
Contact
Carol
Gailen Kotrous,
Monument Sales &
Pre-need Counselor
- Gailen was born at Niobrara, NE and attended high school at Grant,
NE. After high school he went to Omaha and attended Omaha Barber
College where he received his Master of Barbers Degree. Gailen
barbered in Kearney for 33 years, served as the Greyhound Bus agent
in Kearney and Lexington. He has been a monument designer for the
past 22 years. Gailen joined the staff at O'Brien Straatmann Funeral
Home in 2006. Gailen is a member of St. James Catholic Church,
Knights of Columbus, and has served as publicity chairman for the
Kearney Area Concerned Citizens Thanksgiving dinner program for the
past 25 years.
Gailen and his wife, Becky have been married for 30 years and have
four grown children, Gailen Jr., Clark, Chad and Linsay.
Contact
Gailen
Sharon Fuentes
– Pre-need funeral counselor – Sharon has a degree in social work
and past experience working as a social worker in nursing homes,
hospice and hospital settings. She has been assisting families with
pre-planning funerals for several years. Sharon and her husband,
Eric have been married for over 25 years and have three children.
They are active in the Catholic church. She enjoys traveling, sewing
and gardening.
Contact Sharon
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