Phyllis R. Hatt

Phyllis Rose (Hastert) Hatt passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Bryan Medical Center East in Lincoln, NE. Phyllis, resident of The Landing in Lincoln, was born May 17, 1926 in Shelby, NE to Louis A. and Rose (Gabriel) Hastert.

After completing her secondary education in Shelby, Phyllis attended St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Omaha, NE and was admitted to the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps in January 1945. While working as a pediatric registered nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Phyllis received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Creighton University where she met David D. Hatt, a Journalism graduate. Despite a raging blizzard, they married on February 13, 1950 in Shelby, NE.

Phyllis worked for a few years at the hospitals in Lexington and David City, NE until 1953 when Dave became owner/publisher of The Shelby Sunnewspaper.Phyllisreturnedtoher rootstoraise7childrenandwasactive in the Shelby community and Sacred Heart Parish. She later became the Director of Nursing at Annie Jeffrey Memorial Hospital in Osceola, NE until moving to Lincoln in 1972.

Lincoln became the site for Phyllis’ most dedicated nursing career achievements. Her work history included: Head Nurse of Coronary Intensive Care followed by Continuing Education Specialist at Lincoln General Hospital until 1978; five years with an Internal Medicine Group; and Director of Nursing and Health Services for the American Red Cross of Lancaster County which paved the way for numerous honors while serving on community committees.

Phyllis’honors and awards included: Jane DelanoAward for Red Cross Nursing presented by Barbara Bush; Distinguished Service to Nursing Award from UNMC; Outstanding Achievement of Nursing Award from the NE Nurses Ass’n. (NNA); Nominee for the Search of Excellence Award from American Nurses Ass’n.; Red Cross Tiffany Award; Distinguished Services to Retarded CitizensAward;andHonoraryMember of the NE Navy awarded by Gov. Bob Kerrey.

Service to her community and profession included: NNA Board Member; NNA Delegate to State Conventions; Governor’s Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities; Lancaster Office of Mental Retardation Executive Committee Advisory Board; AIDS Education Coalition of NE; Executive Team Couple for Marriage Encounter; Children and Youth Wellness Council; Co-Chair for Governor’s Caucus on Retardation; Vice Chair-Tabitha Home Health Agency Advisory Council; Mental Retardation education for Univ. of NE student nurses; Catholic Social Services Administrative Board Secretary; and Parish nurse.

Besides her dedication to her nursing profession,Phylliswasevenmore lovingly devoted to her immediate family, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Phyllis is survived by her children, Kathy and BenAderholdofColorado,Chereand Mike Kane of Valparaiso, NE, Mike and Peggy Hatt of Omaha, Sue and Bob Ludvik of Omaha,Teri and Gary Rittenhouse of Colorado, Lori and Lisa Hatt of Lincoln, and a special foster daughter, Gayle Gustafson of Madison, WI; brother Jim; 19 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren (who lovingly called her GG). She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dave, brother Bob, great-grandson Declan Kane, and significant companion and friend Bud Peschel.

Public visitation will be Sunday, February 12, 2023, from 3-6:00 p.m. at Butherus-Maser-Love Mortuary, 4040 A St., Lincoln, NE. Phyllis will be laid to rest in Lincoln Memorial Park on February 13, 2023 after a celebration of life Mass at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, 3500 Sheridan Blvd., at 10:30 a.m. There will be a Rosary at 10:00 a.m. Her life was rich, her laughter a light in the darkness, her compassion and love soothed our many pains, but most memorable is that she “walked the walk” of her Faith.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials in honor of Phyllis be donated to the Special OlympicsortheAmericanRedCross.

Condolences may be left online at www.bmlfh.com