Mary Lou Abramson

Funeral Services for Mary Lou Abramson will be held on Friday, December 23, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Nora Mendyk officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege following services.

Mary Lou Abramson, 87 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at Holdrege Memorial Homes. Mary Lou Abramson was born December 24, 1928 in Alma, Nebraska, the only child born to Bruce R. and M. Irene (Johnston) Bocock. She lived in Alma until the family moved to Holdrege when she was three years old. She grew up as the center of a large, extended family and as a young girl she had four great-grandfathers. She received her education from Holdrege Public Schools, graduating from Holdrege High School with the class of 1947. After graduation she served as the class Treasurer and helped organize the class reunions until her health failed.

On September 26, 1948, she was united in marriage to Evald E. Abramson at the Methodist Church in Holdrege. They were married 63 years until Evald's death in 2012. They were blessed three children: Mark Ronald, Mary Katherine "Kay" and Thomas Joel. Mary Lou was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren participate in their school and sporting activities, band and piano concerts and dance recitals. Every summer weekend was spent at the family cabin at Johnson Lake, where she served on the Johnson Lake Development Board and served as a longtime officer of the Mallard Beach area 5 & 6. She devoted many years to the Chapel of the Lake and served as their treasurer.

Mary Lou operated a ceramic business in the basement of the family home for several years. Her painting was meticulous, and her legacy will always be the beautiful ceramic pieces she has given her family and friends.

Mary Lou and Evald purchased the family business, Abramson Appliance & TV from Evald's dad. Together, they owned and operated the store for 26 years, where she was the bookkeeper. Through the business they were able to travel throughout the United States and abroad. In 1991, they continued the family tradition and sold it to their oldest son, Mark. She continued to assist Mark in the business until 2000. Mary Lou and Evald enjoyed their retirement, but they were most happy when their entire family was together.

Genealogy and history were her passion. She was actively involved with the Nebraska Prairie Museum at Holdrege, spending countless hours researching the history of every business that occupied the West side of the 300 block of West Avenue, the block where Abramson Appliance still resides. She extensively researched her genealogy and traced her ancestry back to Benjamin Rush, an original signer of the Declaration of Independence. She is also a 12 ^th generation descendent of William White who was a passenger on the Mayflower. She was a member of the Nebraska Mayflower Society since 2008.

Mary Lou was a member of the United Methodist Church for 75 years. She was a longtime member of the TOPS/KOPS. She loved researching and collecting antiques and going to garage sales and flea markets. She spent countless hours taking care of her garden and flowers.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by; daughter-in-law, Paula Abramson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gustav Malcolm and Julia M. Abramson; and brothers-in-law: Lowell Abramson and his wife, Doris, Maurice Abramson and his wife, Elaine, Ronald Abramson and his wife, Frances, James Abramson and his wife, Alice, and Julius Abramson in infancy.

Mary Lou leaves to celebrate her life; two sons: Mark Abramson of Holdrege and Tom Abramson of Gothenburg, Nebraska; one daughter, Kay Exstrom and her husband, Bryce of Fremont, Nebraska; six grandchildren: Beth Abramson (Cindy) of Elkhorn, Nebraska, Rebeka Abramson of Atlanta, Nebraska, Ashley Abramson and Katelyn Marx (Matt) all of Lincoln, Nebraska, Aaron Abramson of Kearney, Nebraska and Alexandra Abramson of Houston, Texas; two great-granddaughters: Mia and Edison Abramson; one great-grandson, Cylas Abramson all of Elkhorn, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends, including special friend, Sara Chereda of Holdrege.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 22, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Mary Lou's honor and kindly suggested to the First United Methodist Church or the Nebraska Prairie Museum.

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.