Bernard A. Babbitt, 89, of Kearney died Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

Funeral services will be Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Kearney. Rev. Eric Lesher will officiate. Inurnment of ashes will be in the church columbarium. Visitation is planned Friday from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney or prior to services Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Kearney Area Animal Shelter, Kearney Area YMCA or to the Salvation Army. Visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a message of condolence, tribute or memory.

He was born August 8, 1923 in Council Bluffs, IA to Claire and Irene (Lueke) Babbitt. He grew up and graduated from High School in Council Bluffs. He was a veteran of WWII serving in the U.S. Navy from 1943 – 1946. On March 23, 1946 he married Bette E. Christensen in Council Bluffs. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from Iowa State University.

He and his wife moved to Kearney in 1947 then moved to the Amherst area where he was a rural mail carrier for 40 years. They moved to Kearney in 2002. 

He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Kearney, Kearney Elks Lodge #984, Kearney American Legion Post #52 and the Kearney V.F.W. Post #759. He did volunteer work walking dogs at the Kearney Animal Shelter and also enjoyed golfing and watching Nebraska football. 

Survivors include his son; David Babbitt of Kearney, granddaughters, Alexis Pennington and Caitlin Smith and great-grandsons, Beckett and Crew; daughter, Sue Babbitt of Denver, grandchildren, Karla Jones and Steve Schneider and great-grandsons, Rhys and Grayson; daughter, Sarah Stubbs and husband Keith of Pleasanton, grandsons, Adam and Clint Stubbs and great-grandchildren, Calley, Hayden, Colton, Bentley, Maci, Jackson and Avry; daughter, Sandra Pratt and husband Denis of Kearney, grandsons Tyler and Carter Pratt and great granddaughter Emersyn; daughter, Shari Peterson and husband Rex of Riverdale, grandchildren, Jordan Cochran, Zach, Cole and Nolan Peterson, and great-grandchildren, Hunter, Huston , Elle and Hendrex; daughter, Stacey Mayberry and husband Mark of Chapman, KS, and grandchildren, Schuyler and Addie Mayberry. He is also survived by a sister; Kathryn Schmid of Mesa, AZ and brother-in-law, Edward Christensen and his wife Dorothy of Omaha, NE.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter and grandson, Bronson Stubbs and his wife in 2010.