Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Vonda Kay McCracken

Vonda Kay (Palmer) McCracken, one of three children of Jerry L. and Mary M. (Hanner) Palmer, was born January 31, 1966, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. She grew up and attended school in Kimball, Nebraska.

On June 14, 1987, Vonda was united in marriage to Terry McCracken in Bushnell, Nebraska. They made their first home in Bushnell, and were blessed with two daughters, Heather and Cinnamon. In 1994 the family moved to Holdrege, Nebraska for some time and eventually settling in Fairmont, Nebraska.

Vonda was primarily a stay-at-home mom in her younger years, and later in life did the same for her grandsons in Fairmont, Nebraska.

It’s no secret Vonda loved to shop and accumulated many possessions through the years. She had special collections of both teapots and elephant figurines. She loved all her cats but loved her Marshmallow.

While in Auburn to help care for her grandsons, Vonda lived next to her daughter Heather’s home. On the morning of Monday, February 26, 2024, Vonda was rushed to Nemaha County Hospital in Auburn. She passed away at the hospital that day, just 26 days past her 58th birthday. She was preceded in death by her father Jerry, grandparents Margaret and Don Hanner, father-in-law Chet Shriner, niece Tricia Holly McCracken, and her dog Nemo.

Vonda is survived by her daughters Heather McCracken-Rimpley of Auburn and Cinnamon McCracken-Schendt of Belleville, KS; grandchildren Kellen, Kaiden, Talen Rimpley and Holly Schendt; husband Terry of Fairmont; mother Mary Palmer of Holdrege; brother Wade Palmer of Holdrege; sister Tonya Krejci of Holdrege; mother-in-law Betty Schriner of Holdrege; brothers-in-law Tim (Jan) McCracken of Edison, Tracy (Kim) Haack of Witten, SD, Dale Krejci of Holdrege; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A funeral service was held Friday, March 1, 2024, at Hemmingsen Funeral Home in Auburn, officiated by Rev. Terry Weible. Casket bearers were Braden, Braxten, and Dale Krejci, Tracy Haack, Tim McCracken, John Rimpley, and Clint Strait. Honorary bearers were Kellen, Kaiden, and Talen Rimpley, Braelyn Krejci, and Holly Schendt. Vonda’s body was cremated following the service.

Services were entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.