Amy Elinor Brungardt Mares March 22, 1922 - October 20, 2009 Ernest Richard Mares May 4, 1923 - March 26, 2014 A graveside service will be held for Ernie and Amy Mares on Monday June 29 at 11:00 AM in the Seward Nebraska Cemetery. Friends and family are respectfully invited to attend. A luncheon reception will follow. Interment arrangements are being handled by the Zabka Funeral Home. zabkafuneralhome.com Although they resided in Pennsylvania for most of their married life, Nebraska was always their real home. Amy was born in Hastings on March 22, 1922, to the late Henry and Grace (Klein) Brungardt. Ernie was born in Dwight on May 4, 1923, to the late Fred J. and Agnes (Slosar) Mares. They met while attending Seward High School, graduating in 1939 and 1940, and were married at Peace Lutheran Church in Hastings in 1950. They were devoted companions throughout their 59 years of marriage. During the final years of their lives they both faced failing health with determination and courage. Survivors include their four daughters, their spouses, four grandchildren and two great-grandsons: Patricia and Kenneth Miller of Ann Arbor, Michigan and their son Kyle Miller and wife Angelina and son Dylan, daughter Nora Blackwell and husband Gary and son Kier; Jeanne and Jack Kleene of Marblehead, Massachusetts; Deborah and Vincent Randisi of Windsor, New York; Laura Mares of Rochester, New York and daughters Anna Mares Chinchilli and Ellen Mares Chinchilli and their father Felix Chinchilli. They are also survived by Amy's sister Marjorie Brungardt Guard of Littleton, Colorado, sister-in-law Jane Lierman Tomandl of Mobile, Alabama. Nebraska relatives include Jeanette Liska Divis, Seward; Arlene Liska Mohlman, Donald Liska, Marjorie Mares Grossman and Betty Mares Sedlak, all of Lincoln; Roy Mares of Burwell, and Joyce Pearson Savage of Omaha (cousin Lucille Mares Pearson's daughter). They greatly valued the love and friendship that their cousins, classmates and extended families brought to their lives. A beloved son, Brian Richard Mares preceded them in death. Also preceding them in death were brothers, Fred A. Mares, Robert Brungardt, sister Pauline Brungardt Dudek, and infant twin brothers Ronald and Donald Brungardt. Amy's family and her home were the center of her life and she demonstrated her love through her many caring actions, beautiful handwork, and thoughtful handwritten notes and cards. She was very active in many volunteer and community service activities. Ernie always held fast to a strong value set of family, education, work, integrity and patriotism. We celebrate their lives and legacy. Amy attended Concordia University of Nebraska at Seward, Nebraska. In 1942, Amy married Captain Herbert G. Lierman, U.S. Government Services, who preceded her in death in 1949. Ernie returned to her life and they were married on October 29, 1950. Ernie joined the Nebraska National Guard in 1939 when he was 15 years old. He later joined the US Navy as an Air Cadet. A brief illness led to an honorable discharge and he then enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and was trained as a navigator and a Flight Officer. At the conclusion of WWII, he was honorably discharged. He then attended Purdue University and graduated in 1949 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, he worked for IBM in Endicott, New York and was then employed by the General Electric Company from 1951 until his retirement in 1988. Initially with GE in Schenectady, New York, the family was transferred to Erie, Pennsylvania in 1952. He was an Application Engineer for Speed Variator Sales and Service in Erie.