Rev. Connie Buehler

Hastings resident, Rev. Connie James Buehler, 81, passed away Thursday, December 29, 2011 at Mary Lanning Memorial HealthCare, Hastings, Nebraska.

Services will be Tuesday, January 3, 2012; 10:00 A.M. at Good Samaritan Village - All Saints Chapel, Hastings with Rev. Dr. Harold Backus and Pastor Joel Remmers officiating. Graveside service will be Tuesday, January 3, 2012; 3:00 P.M. in Hopewell Cemetery, Sterling, Nebraska with Pastor Milan Coleman officiating. Visitation will be Monday, January 2, 2012; 9:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to service at the chapel. Memorials may be given to Hopewell United Methodist Church General Fund or donor's choice.

Connie was born the first of three children on March 28, 1930 to Harry and Verna (Joekel) Buehler on a farm 6 miles southwest of Sterling, Nebraska. His final resting place is in the Hopewell Cemetery which is at the south part of the farm on which he was born and raised. He attended grades 1 through 8 in the local rural school then attended Adams High School in Adams, Nebraska graduating in 1948. After graduation he farmed both with his parents and on 80 rented acres for 5 years, then served two years in the Army from March 1953 until March 1955. When he returned from the service, he decided to go to college and seminary to become a minister. He attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska from 1955-1959 where he was assigned to the Methodist Church in Prairie Home east of Lincoln for 4 years, and Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri from 1959-1963 where he was assigned to the Methodist Church in Drexel, Missouri for the first two years. He met Metta Eileen Holliman at Nebraska Wesleyan University and they married June 16, 1957. Three children were born to them: John, Brenda, and James. In 1963, they moved back to Nebraska and were assigned the following churches: Palmer-Archer (3 years), Elgin-Oakdale (7 years), DeWitt First-Zion (4 years), Loup City-Litchfield (6 years), Palisade (6 years) and Pawnee City-Du Bois-St. John's (4 years), for his 30 years of active service to the Methodist Churches of the Nebraska Annual Conference. Connie and Metta moved to the Good Samaritan Village in Hastings, Nebraska in June of 1993, when he retired. In retirement, Connie was assigned to the Methodist Church in Ong, Nebraska which is part of the Triune Parish in south-central Nebraska. He served the Ong congregation for 4 years, with Metta passing away on May 13, 1996. Connie married Marie Kilmer on August 21, 1999. He was active in several activities during retirement including preaching, leading Bible studies and singing as long as he was able. Singing was a life-long enjoyment to him. Connie was a member of the Nebraska Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Eastern Star and Mid-West Lodge #317 A.F. & A.M.

Connie was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Metta Eileen Buehler; brother & sister-in-law, Robert & Lois Buehler; and sister, Betty Joekel.

Survivors include:
Wife: Marie Kilmer-Buehler - Hastings, NE
Sons & Spouse: John Buehler - Phoenix, AZ
James & Jennifer Buehler - Lincoln, NE
Daughter & Spouse: Brenda & Rick Wisner - Holdrege, NE
Grandchildren: Anika Buehler - Lincoln, NE
Jared Buehler - Lincoln, NE
Benjamin Buehler - Lincoln, NE
Other relatives and many friends in Hastings and from former parishes