Marcia C. Sudbeck

Marcia C. Sudbeck, age 72 of Hartington, Nebraska died on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at the Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City, Iowa after a courageous battle with cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hartington with the Rev. Owen Korte officiating. Burial will be at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Hartington. Visitation will be on Monday, at church, from 5-7:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services on Tuesday. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington.

Pallbearers will be Larry Koranda, Chad Claussen, Kevin Garvin, Brandon Marreel, Glenn Manning, and Pat Capek.

How does one begin to summarize the profound impact a loving mother, devoted grandmother, cherished sister, and loyal friend had on those fortunate enough to know her? Words will never fully capture the depth of our love, but we offer this tribute in honor of her extraordinary life.

Mom was born on December 5, 1952, to Warren “Sandy” and Janice (Day) Herron. While her father passed away when she was a teenager, Mom found strength in the close bond she shared with her mother and sisters, Deanna and Glenda. She graduated from Aurora High School in 1971 before moving to Lincoln, NE, where she pursued her education at the Lincoln School of Commerce. There, she earned her Medical Secretary Degree in 1973.

Mom worked at various local medical clinics in Lincoln before moving to Hartington in 1976 with her then-husband, Marcel Sudbeck. She lived on a farm near Hartington and later, she moved to her beloved apartment in Coleridge, where she lived for many years, before finally relocating to Sioux City in December 2024.

Mom worked for several local businesses in Hartington including Sudbeck Realty, Bill Yates’ State Farm agency, HTI, the Hartington Telephone Company, and the cheese plant. But it wasn’t until she started working at the Cedar County Sheriff's Office as a dispatcher in 2003 that she truly found her calling. During her seventeen years there, Mom became an integral part of the community, known for answering countless 911 calls with her calm, reassuring voice. Her job also required her to take care of the inmates, whom she provided homemade meals and her signature motherly advice: “Now leave... and don’t come back.” Mom was immensely proud of her work as a dispatcher and earned the deep respect of her coworkers and local volunteer firefighters and EMTs. She made a lasting impact with her kindness, dedication, and unwavering sense of service. It was the best job she ever had.

There were three things that Mom cherished most in her life: Her family, her faith, and her music.

When asked what her greatest accomplishment in life was, Mom always answered without hesitation: “My kids.” She took immense pride in the fact that all four of us—Heather, Kristi, Nathan, and Tracy—attended Catholic school and graduated from college. Mom instilled in each of us a love of learning and a passion for reading. She was silly and fun when the time was right, but also strict when she needed to be. She held each of us to the highest of standards but also provided great comfort and care when life was hard. Mom spent countless hours making each of us a personalized cross stitch piece of art commemorating our wedding days as well as for the birth of each of her grandkids. She was also the first to make sure our shoes and purses were ready during a tornado warning or ensuring we were stocked up before a blizzard hit. There are so many memories we wish we could share here, but just know we thought the world of her, and we will miss her every single day.

What we all cherished about Mom only grew stronger when she became a grandmother. Her love for her grandkids was immeasurable, and she delighted with every moment spent with them, making sure to attend their events and be an active part of their lives. She never missed a Grandparents Day celebration at their schools and made the trip to Grand Island many times to watch the Harvest of Harmony celebration. She attended many choral concerts, play performances, volleyball tournaments, and basketball games, always cheering for her grandkids. She loved indulging them and they absolutely adored her for it. One of her greatest joys in her final months was watching her 11-year-old grandson, Tyson, play the piano. She was so proud to see her gift of music being passed on to the next generation.

Mom’s faith was the foundation of her life, shaping everything she did and inspiring everyone around her. Her faith was a central part of her identity. For over 40 years, Mom shared her musical talent with Holy Trinity Catholic Church, playing both the piano and organ at countless weekend Masses, weddings, and funerals. She also played at St. Michael’s church in Coleridge when asked. Mom’s faith wasn’t just something she spoke about—it was something she lived every day. She would often remind us, “It’s all in God’s hands.” She prayed many times throughout the day, trusting Him fully and placing her life in His care.

Just as her faith was a cornerstone of her life, so too was her deep love for music. There was rarely a song on the radio that Mom couldn’t sing along with. She especially loved Barry Manilow, and she attended his concerts with her daughters many times, each experience a cherished memory of laughing and dancing. Though she could play the piano for hundreds of people packed into a church, her best performances were at home. With every note, her music made our living room feel like a grand concert hall. Her gift for playing the piano and organ was unmatched—she could play for hours, filling the house with beautiful music. We were always in awe of her talent.

Mom took two memorable trips with her daughters in her final years that reinforced their strong bond. The four of us spent eight days – and one hotel room – exploring Yellowstone National Park. A few years later, we celebrated Mom’s 70th birthday with a trip to Cancun where we told EVERYONE it was her birthday. This resulted in an announcement by the pilots on Southwest Airlines, upgraded rooms at the resort, free desserts at the restaurant, and many, many free drinks. She was the life of the party with her gorgeous smile, and we will cherish the memories made on these trips for the rest of our lives.

Mom will be missed by her oldest daughter, Heather Marreel, her husband, Brandon, and their daughters McKayla and Peyton, all of Sioux City, IA. She is cherished by another daughter, Kristi Capek, and her son, Logan, and daughter, Alyssa, all of Crete, NE. Her son, Nathan, will remember Mom fondly, along with his wife, Jada, and their sons, Preston and Tyson, all of Elkhorn, NE. And her youngest daughter, Tracy Manning, will treasure her memories of Mom with her husband, Glenn, in Omaha, NE.

Mom is also survived by her two sisters and brothers-in-law: Deanna & Roger Freier in Bellevue, NE, and Glenda and Mike Allen, of Aurora, NE. Additionally, there are several nieces and nephews that were blessed by her love.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her dearly loved housecat, Calvin. Mom, everything we are, we owe to you. Until we see you again.