Nadene Nutter

Nadene Esther Kraft Ondrak Nutter was born April 1, 1920. She passed away 104 years later on September 15, 2024, in Ravenna.

A celebration of life will be held for Nadene at the Rasmussen Mortuary on Friday, October 11, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. Cards and memorials can be sent to Patty Meister, 2004 Park Place Dr., Fremont, NE 68025.

Nadene grew up on a farm near Rockwell City, Iowa, and was one of 11 children. Her parents were Fred Albert Kraft and Louise Schnell Kraft. Her brothers were: Walter, Carl, Harry, Richard, Freddy Jr., and George. Her sisters were: Helen Ellis, Nina Watkins, Garnet Bloomquist, and Marie Vosberg.

She was the last of her family to pass.

She married Bernard John Ondrak in 1943. They had their first daughter Claudia in 1945 followed by Clyde (1947), Linda (1950), Mary (1953), Nancy (1955), Jerry (1957), Bonny (1958), and Patty (1962). The early years were in Iowa until they moved to Cairo in 1950.

Bernard was diagnosed with cancer in 1963. He stopped working in 1964 and passed away in 1976. Nadene worked several jobs to keep the family going. Even with help from her older kids who were working and contributing she was forced to divorce Bernard in 1974 to escape the mounting medical bills.

Nadene married Jim Nutter in 1976 and they lived on the Nutter family farm near Shelton. Jim was a retired farmer who worked construction and Nadene worked for Eaton’s in Kearney. She retired in 1983 after 10 years.

They were extremely happy together and enjoyed family, traveling (even if it was just to Valentine for lunch to celebrate Valentine’s Day), and growing beautiful gardens that surrounded the farm.

Jim passed away in 2014 leaving her to live alone on the farm. In February 2022, with encouragement from her family, she sold the farm and moved into Seneca Sunrise Assisted Living in Ravenna. She enjoyed her new place mostly because she didn’t have to cook for herself anymore and there was always someone around.

Survivors include son, Jerry (April) Ondrak; daughters, Linda Lethbridge, Mary (Keith) Ripp, Nancy (Dan) Berumen, Bonny Schepler, and Patty (Scott) Meister; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters; nieces and nephews; and her children, Claudia Murr and Clyde Ondrak.