Kara Essman

Kara D. Essman, age 58, of Chappell, NE passed away peacefully in her home after a 20 year valiant battle with cancer, on Sunday, November 18, 2018.  Her devotion to her family and her belief in God supported her in the struggle and ultimately gave her peace.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., November 26, 2018 at the Chappell United Methodist Church with Pastors Dave Abbott and Harun Gatobu officiating.  Burial will follow in the Chappell City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Chappell.

Memorials in Kara’s name can be made to the Chappell Ambulance or to Adopt-A-Dog.

Kara Essman was born in Cheyenne, Wy on May 8^th, 1960.  She graduated high school from Valley High School in Plattesville, CO. 

Our family moved into the area and settled into Chappell.  She worked at the Chappell Feedlot, after that she obtained a job at the Deuel County Road Department as a secretary.  She then advanced into superintendent of Deuel County Roads and also moved her way up through the State of Nebraska Department of County Officials.  She also helped with the current 911 system for the county.  The 4-H groups were a big part of our lives as mom volunteered for numerous groups such as horse, dog, and market steers.  God blessed her with many talents and abilities and in returned passed them on to many others that have walked through her life.  Mom will be remembered for her personal lifelong passion and enthusiasm for horses and riding. She showed horses throughout her life. She taught us kids to show horses and once we were out of the house continued to show horses in the local area. Mom was even able to convince Tom of the many rewarding pleasures of riding horses and they both would ride into the sunsets together (of course when they both had time or made time). She continued those traditions with Jordan, Kennedy and Maverick who she taught the passion, pleasure, and knowledge of horses.

Happiness was a big theme though out Kara’s life.  Mom wanted a home filled with laughter and love, so she filled it with kids and pets.  The house was buzzing with activity, and no matter how busy things got, mom was always ready to give big hugs.  Anyone who has been to my parent’s house knows her passion for bringing home all kinds of pets.  I tried to count how many pets came through our home during my time living there.  You may know she never made them stay off the furniture.  She will be remembered for loving Tom, her children, and the numerous farm animals or pets.  She had an extraordinary ability to give love to all. 

Kara is survived by her husband Thomas T. Essman; mom, Vivian Thompson; brothers Kyle Adler and Todd Adler; children, Shawna Vrbas-Tobar, Shannon Vrbas, and Seth Sauder and grandchildren, Jordan Bocock, Kennedy Bocock, Maverick Vrbas, Paisley Sauder and other extended grandchildren.