Jody Malm

A memorial service for Jody G. Malm will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Holdrege Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Sarah Fisher officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery, Holdrege, Nebraska.

Genece "Jody" G. (Eckwall) Malm, 73 years of age, of Alma, passed away on Thursday, August 28th, 2025 at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney.  Jody was born in Orleans, Nebraska on August 28th, 1952, the second of a set of twins, and four wonderful daughters, born to Dayle & Phyllis (Shaffer) Eckwall.

She graduated from Holdrege High School, with the class of 1970.  She went on to attend classes at Kearney State College.

On July 16th, 1971, Jody Eckwall married William "Bill" Carl Malm at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege.  They made their home in Holdrege, and to this union, two children were born: Corey William and Casey Genece.  Jody stayed home to raise her kids until they were old enough for school. She was very artistic, enjoying drawing & painting, floral design, china painting, calligraphy, and hand pinstriping.  She also loved working at Holdrege Floral in the greenhouse and making beautiful arrangements.

In 1984, the family moved to Alma.  Jody still helped at Holdrege Floral when needed, worked at Hays Pharmacy, was the owner of Winks & Grins, a floral and gift shop, worked at Karla's Kreations in Holdrege, waited tables at the local steakhouse, and finally retired from a lengthy career at Allmand Brothers in Holdrege.

In 1994, Jody was diagnosed with breast cancer.  After many months of grueling chemo treatments and radiation, she was declared cancer free and remained that way for 22 years until she was diagnosed, this time, with metastatic breast cancer.  Through all the treatments, medications and needle pokes, Jody didn't complain. She fought a long, hard battle but, in the end, lost the war, still, never complaining.

Both Bill and Jody loved living in Alma, they had many friends and family there and enjoyed the small-town living the community provided. Jody was a long-time member of the local chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, volunteered at the Caring Cupboard with her sister-in-law, Pam, and of course spent a lot of time on the golf course.

In 2001, she decided to put together a lady's golf tournament to benefit area community members that have, or have had, breast cancer. With the help of many family members and friends the tournament is still going strong and gets better every year, thanks to many dedicated people that come together for this amazing event!

Jody loved so many things in her life.  She loved anything Halloween and enjoyed decorating her house for all the kids in town.  Thanks to her son-in-law, Andy, she was a huge Chicago Cubs fan and got to attend several games over the years. Her dog Lucy was a wonderful companion and almost as big as Jody was!  Most of all she loved her family, especially her grandson, Will.

Jody was preceded in death by her parents, Dayle and Phyllis; her husband, Bill Malm; her parents in law, Charles "Bud" and Phyllis Malm; sister-in-law, Janet Lyon and her husband, Wayne; brother-in-law, Chuck Meisenbach; nephew, Anthony Shield; and two great nephews, Rhett Schultz and Hugh Johnson.

Jody is survived by her children: Corey Malm of Kearney; and Casey Feddersen and her husband, Andrew of Kearney; one grandson, William Feddersen; sisters: Judy Shield and her husband Don of Lincoln, NE; Kip Johnson and her husband, Neil of Wonder Lake, IL; and Teddy Lundberg and her husband, Kurt of York, NE; siblings-in-law: Pam Meisenbach of Alma; Tim Malm and his wife, Barb of Holdrege; Tammi Sturgis and her husband, Kent of Holdrege; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

A memorial book signing will be held on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Jody's honor, and kindly suggested to the family for later designation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.