Levern Glenn Hauptmann

Funeral Services for Levern G. Hauptmann age 92 of Neligh, Nebraska will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday April 5, 2025 at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Neligh with Pastor Janet Davis, officiating. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday April 4, 2025 at Beyer Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Neligh, Nebraska. Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Neligh, Nebraska with Military Rites conduded by Neligh American Legion Post #172 and VFW #5287.  Arrangements are being handled by Beyer Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Neligh. Levern passed away on March 28, 2025 at Fountain Point Assisted Living in Norfolk, Nebraska. Condolences may be directed to the family at www.beyersnidermemorialfh.com

In Lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations in Levern’s memory to be made to the Antelope County Historical Society or the Neligh Library.

Levern Glenn Hauptmann was born northeast of Neligh, NE in the farm home of Dilver and Regina (Forsell) Hauptmann on September 14, 1932. He attended rural school District 72 for eight years, then graduated from Neligh High School in 1949. He achieved FFA State Farmer status as a sophomore, and received a Regents Scholarship upon graduation. His three years of rural school teaching experience after attending Wayne State Teachers College for the summer session began in 1950. His first teaching year found him at the age of 17 with 8th graders 14 years of age as students.

The years of 1953 to 1955 were spent in the Army, with the majority of the time being spent in a Division Headquarters Company located near Stuttgart, Germany. From there he traveled to most of the countries in Europe. Stuttgart had a major opera company that operated 11 months of the year, and here his lifelong passion for this art form was nourished and expanded.

After his military service, Levern attended college in Wayne for one year, majoring in social science. At this time he began entertaining, singing folk music, as well as country-western with guitar accompaniment.

In 1956, Levern enrolled at Colorado State College in Greeley, CO, where he was employed at the Weld County Library, until earning his B.A. Degree in 1958. After one year of teaching history in Manzanola, CO (his $110 stipend from the army had expired), he earned his M.S. in History and Political Science. He then toured Russia and other countries. A nation deserving of special mention is Sweden, where long-lost relatives were visited. Relationships formed at this time have lasted up to this day.

The next major development of his life was the move to Leigh, NE to teach Social Sciences and coach drama. Also arriving in Leigh in 1961 to teach home economics was Joann Jacobsen of Silver Creek, NE, who was a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She and Levern married on December 22, 1963. They lived in Columbus until 1964, when they moved back to the Neligh area to begin their farming years. In 1968 they purchased the farm homesteaded by Levern’s maternal grandparents Forsell in 1881 and resided there until October 2024 when they moved to assisted living . During his many farming years, Levern always kept a flock of laying hens that contained at one time or another almost all of the poultry breeds known to exist. In 1985, they were honored with the Great Nebraska Family Award, and in 2002, they received the Pioneer Farm Family award. In 2009, Levern was named Neligh High School’s Outstanding Alumni. Levern was honored in 2021 to receive the Heritage Hero award from the Nebraska Historical Society in honor of his efforts to preserve and educate the public on the rich history of the area.

Levern was always interested in drama, and he acted, directed, wrote, and produced stage work for more than six decades. He greatly enjoyed volunteering at the Neligh Nursing Center and the Willows, where he offered bi-weekly readings and conversation with his fellow “golden oldies.” These conversations of “times long ago” were of great value in his many years of work with the Antelope County Historical Society and its museum complex. He held several offices in this organization, where he raised funds and gave tours to hundreds of children. Levern was an avid reader, and much enjoyed for many years participation in a monthly reading group, as well as programs sponsored by the Neligh Public Library. Levern felt that one of his most important community endeavors was the establishing of the Antelope County Arts Council in 1974. This program flourished for more than 20 years, and brought ballet, symphonic music, professional theater, and more to thousands of area youths.

He served as a trustee of Neligh’s Congregational Church for 40 years, and was proud of his leadership in the program that brought hundreds of international students from the University of Nebraska to the Neligh area over spring break for an extended weekend to experience U.S. rural life. Levern stayed very interested in national affairs and was active in the Democratic party throughout his life.

Levern had written that “The greatest blessing bestowed by God to me was to be born in this magnificent, bountiful country with the gift of my wife, children, and grandchildren.”

Levern is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joann; their children Daniza (Ken) Whitham, Davina (Abed) Keddo, Dan (Stacy), and David ; grandchildren Rebekah, Kyle, and Emily Whitham; Jibreel, Nadia, Nawal, and Jad Keddo; Keegan Young; and Zach and Chloe Hauptmann; and four great grandchildren, Owen and Everett Whitham, and Talia and Eileen Keddo. He is also survived by his sister Patty Bauer; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Dale in 1948, and an infant daughter, Diane Natasha, in 1967.