Geraldine M. Rinehart

Memorials are suggested to the Arbor Care home of Franklin or the Franklin Fire & EMS Departments. Franklin's new floral shop is open "Flowers By Design" Cheryl Blain, designer 308-470-6006.

Geraldine Margaret (Gertsch) Rinehart was born October 29th, 1921 to Kasper and Lela Gertsch . Her life was quite remarkable! Born just after World War I, she lived through the Depression and the dust storms of the “dirty thirties”. She and her parents lived just south of Franklin on a farm which they lost during the Republican Valley flood in 1935. As a witness to the 1935 flood that devastated the Republican Valley, she stood on the town bank and watched the river fill the valley from one side to the other. The noise was overwhelming. Roaring water, animals crying and people shouting, it was unforgettable for her.

Since her home was on the south side of the river, she was unable to return home for several days and stayed with her school friend's family. She had to leave country school to start high school in Franklin. To her it was big compared to the country school she had attended, and she didn't know anyone. After graduating she was able to teach in the country school in Franklin County for three years. She boarded with the families of the children she taught.

When the attack on Pearl Harbor happened, it changed her life, as it did many other Americans. She followed a handsome soldier, named Virgil (Swede) Rinehart, to California and was married there doing whatever she could to help support the military. She was a maid for a doctor's family, ran a motel, drove a bus on an army base, and was a real life “Rosie the Riveter”, carrying a reminder of those days with a scar on her hand where a rivet went through. When she was expecting her first child, she returned to Nebraska and gave birth to Lana Rinehart on January 20th, 1945. At war's end, her husband came home and took advantage of the government's offer of schooling for veterans.

Gerry went along with Virgil as he went to barber school, and she went to beauty school. That was the start to a very long career as a beautician. She ran her shop, located in the front porch of their house, for 63 years and was one of the few female business owners of her generation. She loved “the lake” in Harlan County, because of the fishing and boating. Every spare minute was spent at their trailer at Patterson Harbor on the south side of the lake. Every year they saved money for a family vacation, usually to California (with stops in Las Vegas for Virgil) and her favorite place was Colorado. Eleven years later they had their second child, Steven, on January 17th, 1956. Over the years she ran her beautician business and had to deal with the deaths of her parents, family members and friends and finally lost Virgil to Alzheimer’s Disease in 1998. 

Not one to quit, she continued being a beautician until 2013. When she retired, she rebounded from shoulder, hip, and knee replacements, as well as a fall that broke her hip bone. She kept playing bridge and gardening as well as being active in her Methodist church. Many people can remember her making noodles and peeling potatoes for the church suppers! 

She loved to travel and if a sentence had the word “GO” in it, she was ready! She traveled to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Colorado, Hawaii, Alaska, and California which were some of her favorite places to have gone. Most of all she loved every one of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren and eagerly welcomed an opportunity to be with them. 

Gerry’s Family consisted of: First child Lana Holmes (Gary Holmes) Bloomington NE., who has six sons; Michael Hansen (La Trisha Hansen) St. Louis MO; Kurt Hansen (Michaela Hansen) Columbus, NE; Christopher Hansen (Ulcca Hansen) Durango CO; Jeffery Hansen (Margaret Hansen) Olathe KS; Norman Holmes (Angie Holmes) Franklin, NE; Newly Holmes (Becky Holmes) Naponee NE.

Second child, Steven Rinehart (Julie Rinehart) Osceola, NE; who has one son and two daughters; Travis Rinehart (Amber Rinehart) Omaha, NE; Lynsdy Rinehart Belleview, NE; Kellie Rinehart, Belleview, NE.

She has Great Grandchildren: Jason Hansen, Corey Hansen, Bradley Hansen, Nathaniel Hansen, Ally Hansen, and Ava Kate Hansen, Sachin Hansen, Ashwin Hansen, Alex Hansen, Benjamin Hansen Olivia Hansen, Elle Hansen, Emily Hansen, Tarike Rinehart, Demeke Rinehart, Lusito Rinehart, Luke Rinehart, Quentin Menyweather, Jamar Menyweather, Devon Carson, Marcus Baptist, Kiara Baptist, TraShan Guillary, Jordan Holmes, Teagan Holmes, Tate Holmes, as well as 8 great, great grandchildren!

Nephews Richard Hausserman, Mark Rinehart; Nieces Pennie Rinehart, Diana Anderson, Linda Gaffney. The latter part of her life included seeing and visiting with all these relatives! After 103 years of life, she will be missed by many people!

A Memorial service to honor her life is scheduled for 1:00pm Friday, February 7, 2025 at the United Methodist Church, Franklin, Nebraska with Pastor Rodney Heilbrun officiating. Inurnment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Franklin. Memorials are suggested to the Arbor Care Center or the Franklin Fire & EME Departments. Hutchins Funeral Home Franklin assisted the Rinehart Family