1928
Embree
2024
Embree Anne Learned
September 5, 1928 — March 24, 2024
Grand Island, NE
Embree Anne (Rains) Learned, daughter of Earnest and Leila (McArthur) Rains was born on her parent’s farm north of Broken Bow, NE on September 5, 1928. She completed her life's journey on March 24, 2024, Palm Sunday, at Grand Island, NE.
Embree, started Prairie Center Grade School at age 4 and was taught by her mother Leila. She grew up during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, admiring her hard working parents who made deliberate choices and sacrificed to support their children. Her parents worked side by side surveying farms and her mother Leila returned to teaching to provide for her college education. She believed those lessons of commitment and sacrifice were meant to be passed down to her own children.
She attended Broken Bow High School where she learned to play trombone, graduating in 1945. She attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln where she excelled in music playing in the Band and Orchestra and she acquired her life-long love of Husker athletics. During her college years, Em was one of the first women to represent UNL, playing trombone and marching in the ROTC Band. While at UNL, Em met future husband, Jack Learned, through mutual friends in the Music Department.
After graduating from UNL with her Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1949, she taught elementary music and high school band at Elwood and Sumner, NE.
Em and Jack reconnected in the Summer of 1950 and were married in Broken Bow on June 3, 1951. They lived in Arapahoe, NE for 4 years where Jack taught Music. Since Em had always wanted children, they started their family with daughters Cameron Jane, Jacqueline Anne and son Gregg Austin. In 1956 the family moved to Ogallala, NE when Jack became the High School Vocal Music Teacher. The family grew with the additions of daughter Clista Louise and son Brint Earnest. In 1961, they made a final move to Grand Island, NE when Jack became the Vocal Music Instructor at Grand Island Senior High. Em continued her life as devoted mother of 5 very active children and she rejoiced when another son, Vincent Ted, was born. In 1979, after her 5 oldest children graduated from high school and Vince was in Junior High, Em restarted her career in education with Grand Island Public Schools and Central Nebraska Support Systems, working as a Paraprofessional in the Early Childhood and Visually Handicapped classrooms.
Em served the Grand Island Public Schools for 13 years, retiring in 1992.
During retirement, Em and Jack kept busy with their longtime support of Husker Football, attending home and away games and traveling to many Bowl Games throughout the 1980’s and 90’s. They also enjoyed cruises through the Panama Canal and to Alaska as well as trips to visit family.
After Jack passed away in 1999, Em continued her support of American Red Cross, Special Olympics, Stuhr Museum Foundation, and PEO (Professional Educators Organization). She also served on the boards of the YWCA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Grand Island Community Concerts. She also kept a busy schedule, attending many, many weddings, birthdays, dance recitals, school programs and sporting events of her 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Em had a great appreciation of wildlife, especially the crane migration and she was devoted to her Book Club, enjoying the company of great friends over a glass of wine.
In September of 2023, Em enjoyed celebrating her 95th birthday with all of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends. In October, she moved to Riverside Lodge Assisted Living where she reconnected with dear friends.
Recently, Em developed some challenging health issues and the last couple of months were a difficult struggle for her as she fought to get her health back.
On March 24, Palm Sunday, as the end grew near, all of her children and their families were able to see her or speak to her over the phone to say goodbye. We also believe that, since it was her father's birthday and she was the "apple of his eye", it was no coincidence that she chose that day to join him.
Embree Anne was an intelligent, talented, beautiful, strong, feisty woman who raised 6 children and taught them to nurture and value and have consideration and empathy for all people. Her legacy is her love for family and the many lives she touched in her full, inspirational life of 95 1/2 years.
Em will be missed, but we celebrate the joy she brought to us throughout our lives.
Em was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jack, and brother Earnest M. Rains.
She is survived by her 6 children Cami Learned (Karen Klein) of Denver, CO.; Gregg Learned (Resy) of Omaha, NE.; Jackie Powell (Bob) of Carlisle, PA.; Clista Campbell (Larry) of Grand Island, NE.; Brint Learned of Painesville, OH.; and Vince Learned (Kellyn) of Lincoln, NE.
Also surviving her are granddaughters Heather Keasling (Derek), Tiffany Shuda (Jason) and Leila Learned. Her grandsons Spencer Powell (Kayla), Austin Learned, Garrett Campbell (Cheyenne) and Sylvin Learned.
Em’s adoring great grandchildren are granddaughters: Adelyn and Macy Shuda; Embree Keasling; Ella Campbell; Stevie Bertuldo Carroll; and Charlotte Jones Powell. Grandsons are Carter and Beckett Keasling and Jacob, Kellen, Samuel, and Benjamin Shuda.
She also leaves behind her nephew Steve Rains, and nieces Jan High, Eann Rains and JoAnn Aronson who always referred to her as “Auntie Em.” And dear friends, Mike and Dianne Schneider, Leah Clark, and Kathy and Lonnie Logan.
Visitation will be (no joke) April 1, 2024 from to 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Apfel Funeral Home 1123 West 2nd Street Grand Island, NE 68801.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 pm Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Trinity United Methodist Church 511 N Elm Street Grand Island, NE 68801. Burial will follow in the Grand Island City Cemetery. A livestream of the service will be available at https://www.facebook.com/trinityumcgi
After the burial, the family invites you to join them for a celebration of Em’s life from 3:00 – 6:00 pm at Balz Banquet and Reception Hall 213 N Sycamore Street Grand Island, NE 68801.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorial contributions to the University of Nebraska Foundation Jack A. and Embree A. Learned Music Education Scholarship, GIPS Foundation in care of Embree Learned fund, Stuhr Museum Foundation, Grand Island Community Concert Association, or to the family to be designated at a later date.
The Family would like to thank Dr. Jay Anderson and the care staff of St. Francis Hospital and Riverside Lodge for their compassionate, loving care and support for Mom.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Embree Anne Learned, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Monday, April 1, 2024
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Apfel Funeral Home Inc - Grand Island
Funeral Service
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Starts at 1:00 pm (Central time)
Trinity United Methodist Church
Livestream
Celebration of Life
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
3:00 - 6:00 pm (Central time)
Balz Reception Hall
Guestbook
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