Lynn J. Mcpheron

A Memorial Service for Lynn J. McPheron will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand, Nebraska, with Pastor John Strackbein officiating.

An inurnment will be held at a later date, at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois with Military Honors provided .

Lynn Joseph McPheron, 81 years of age, of Mesa, Arizona and Bertrand, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, June 8, 2026, at his home in Mesa. Lynn was born on October 20, 1944 in Evanston, Illinois, the eighth of nine children born to James Wilton and Mary Rose (Lavan) McPheron. He attended his elementary years at Miller School and St. Mary's Roman Catholic School in Evanston and then attended Evanston Township High School, graduating with the class of 1962.  Lynn then pursued higher education at Kendall College while working full-time, graduating in 1966. From there he continued his education and received his BS in Biology from University of Illinois at Chicago in 1968.

On October 10, 1968, he enlisted into the United States Air Force and served in Vietnam and Thailand as a radio operator for low-flying reconnaissance aircraft.  He left active duty in 1972, and was honorably discharged on October 9, 1974.

Lynn then continued his education and received his M.S in Microbiology in 1977, and his PhD in Microbiology in 1981 from the University of Illinois at Chicago.  He did his post-doctoral study at Rush St. Luke's Pres. Hospital, in Chicago.  He then was employed as a doctoral fellow at National Jewish Hospital and University of Colorado Health Sciences, both in Denver, Colorado. Lynn was very dedicated and proud of his life's work as a biomedical researcher. He studied viruses, immunology, and specialized in cancer research.  Lynn was later employed at Coors Brewing Company and for Jefferson County, Colorado, both in Human Resources.

On December 31, 2000, he was united in marriage to Sylvia High Karlsson at the Park Hill Congregational Church in Denver. The couple moved to Nebraska in 2007, and enjoyed traveling, book clubs and fixing up their old house in Bertrand.  In 2014, the couple began to winter in Mesa to be near family, and in 2025, they began to reside there fulltime.

Lynn enjoyed reading, genealogy, gardening, and was a former member of the Rocky Mountain Roadrunners (running club).  He was a former member of the Colorado Mountain Club (hiking club), and with this group, he climbed seven of Colorado's "fourteeners."

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: James McPheron; Thomas McPheron; Stanley McPheron; Robert McPheron; and John McPheron; sisters: Marion Baumhart; and Bea Borre; three sisters-in-law: Brenda McPheron; Darlene McPheron; and Geraldine McPheron; and two brothers-in-law: Robert Baumhart; and Robert Borre.

Lynn leaves to celebrate his life, his loving wife of 25 years, Sylvia High Karlsson of Mesa; two step-daughters: Christina Ronnberg; and Bethany Ronnberg, both of Mesa; one step-grandson, Isaak Ronnberg-Brackley of Mesa; brother, Ronald McPheron of Knoxville, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Kassandra McPheron of Laguna Woods, California; along with a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and many friends.

There will be no visitation or memorial book signing. The family is honoring Lynn's wish for cremation.

Memorials in Lynn's memory are kindly suggested to the World Wildlife Fund.

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.