Margaret L Hornaday

A Celebration of Life Service for Margaret L. "Marg" Hornaday will be conducted from the First Baptist Church in Oxford, Nebraska on Friday, October 19, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Paul Sowden and Pastor Linda Knipping-Potts, officiating. Interment will be held at the Arapahoe Cemetery at Arapahoe, Nebraska at 2:00 p.m.

Margaret Louise "Marg" Hornaday, 92 years of age of Holdrege, Nebraska (former longtime resident of Oxford), passed away on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at Holdrege Memorial Homes in Holdrege. She was born January 20, 1920 in a farm house along the West Muddy Creek, north of Arapahoe in Furnas County, Nebraska. She was the youngest of two children born to Diedrick and Sophie (Huxoll) Stover.

She received her education from St. Matthew's Parochial Lutheran School in Gosper County, Nebraska and the rural Snowball School. Her older sister, Helen drove them to school by horse and buggy. Marg was confirmed in 1928 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. At the age of 9, Marg lost her mother, Sophia.

On a very hot July 23, 1938 she was united in marriage to A. Kenneth Hornaday at Norton, Kansas. The witnesses to the wedding day were her sister, Helen Stover and friend to both, Wayne Upward. A large reception was held in the Arapahoe City Park. To this union two children were born: Sharon and Larry. In 1941, the couple moved to Oxford, where they made their home and Marg continued to reside for nearly 70 years.

Marg's complete devotion was to her children and husband. She continued to be a stay-at-home mother until the passing of her husband, Ken in 1970. She started working with the Green Thumb Organization and through Dorothy Beeler she began her employment at the Oxford High School Library. Marg was also a news reporter for the Oxford Standard. She also enjoyed being a Nanny/Babysitter for several families in the Oxford area including: Dr. Riepe's, the Breen's, and a special boy, Cory Hoelting. It was also a must for her grandson, Mike to have his grandparents' as his only babysitter. She loved to follow her grandchildren's activities, especially their basketball and soccer games. Marg and her friend, Geulah Lueking traveled by Amtrak to Illinois many times to visit the grandkids.

She enjoyed making crafts and attending craft shows. Marg also enjoyed playing cards; she was a member of the Silver Threads and the Double Dozen Card Clubs. Her love of her plants, trees, flowers and yard were admired by many. The beautiful African Violets in her home were viewed and shared with many family and friends. Some of her many gifts from God, were her love of nature, peaceful attitude, and her devotion to her family. Marg was also an avid and faithful fan of Lawrence Welk on Saturday night.

Besides her parents and husband, Ken, she was preceded in death by her sister, Helen Haussler and her husband, Martin; son-in-law, Norman Dietz; sister-in-law, MaryLou Hornaday and step-mother, Maria Stover.

She is survived by her two children: Sharon (Dietz) Ludeke and her husband, Ron of Oxford, Larry Hornaday and his wife, Jo of Kearney, Nebraska; one special niece, Linda (Haussler) Blauvelt and her husband, Paul of Holdrege; three grandsons: Mike Dietz of Gretna, Nebraska, Todd Hornaday of Bettendorf, Iowa and Shawn Hornaday and his wife, Rachel of Littleton, Colorado; great-grandchildren: Morgan, Chyne, Seth, Michael, and Kaleb Dietz, Shelby and Charlie Hornaday, great-great grandson, Mason Bennett; and grandchildren by marriage: Pat Ludeke, Brad and Tracie Ludeke, Laura Tobiassen, Kylie and Amyiah Gabriel, and Kelsie and Lexie Ludeke; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford.

A memorial has been established in her memory and kindly suggested to the Golden Generation Center in Oxford and the Holdrege Memorial Homes.

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

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of arrangements.