Farewell, Levern Hauptmann

We Honor Our Elder Statesman

Antelope County Museum Historical Society Newsletter

AUGUST 2025

The Antelope County Historical Society lost our elder statesman, our resident historian and one of Antelope County’s most dedicated champions of local history on March 28 when Levern Glenn Hauptmann died at the age of 92.

Levern focused much of his attention on Antelope County history, but his reach was statewide. In 2021 he received the Heritage History Hero Award from History Nebraska in honor of his wide-ranging efforts to preserve the county’s history for more than 55 years. “Antelope County lost a great historian with the loss of Levern,” said Donna Hanson, former Antelope County Museum curator who worked closely with Levern. Quoted in the Antelope County News, she said: “This makes me very sad. . . I shall remember your great stories and appreciate the help while at the Antelope County Museum.” Society Historian Alexandra McClanahan Shively wrote on Facebook: “Levern inspired so many of us in so many ways. His kindness and concern for all of us were unmatched.” Levern served on the board of the Antelope County Historical Society for decades. He undertook essential work to assure the sustainability of the Antelope County Museum Complex, and he put emphasis on planning for the participation of school-age children in activities.

Levern’s wife of 61 years, who worked closely with him in his endeavors, said Levern was particularly interested in celebrating the history of Native Americans in the area. “He loved the exploration of the Indian cultures and history, as well as considering their role on into the future,” she said. He spoke often about the grave of White Buffalo Girl in Laurel Hill Cemetery and was involved with the Ponca when they held an event in Riverside Park in 2011 to thank the people of Neligh for honoring her parents’ plea in 1877 that she be buried and remembered. Levern also represented the Antelope County Historical Society in 2024 when he repatriated a traditional sacred stone pipe that had been in the muse-um’s collection to the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. Levern felt the history of those buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery needed to be remembered, and he wrote a play about people buried there who made a significant contribution to Antelope County. After the performance of the play, Levern led a tour of the cemetery to show where those featured in the play were buried.

Perhaps less well known than his focus on history was Levern’s advocacy for civil rights. He believed that having local young people learn about other cultures and peoples was one of the best ways to broaden their horizons. He also opposed discrimination and racism whenever he could. Excerpts from his obituary in the Antelope County News paint a picture of a life of dedi-cation, hard work and passion for the arts and history.

Levern was born northeast of Neligh in the farm home of Dilver and Regina (Forsell) Hauptmann on September 14, 1932. He attended rural School District 72 for eight years. His appreciation for the education he attained in a rural school made him a life-long advocate for the quality of learning such schools offered their students. He felt strongly that the history surrounding Nebraska’s rural schools needed to be preserved and celebrated. Levern saw one of his many dreams come to fruition when the One-Room Schoolhouse became part of the Museum Complex in 2013. Levern graduated from what was then Neligh High School in 1949. (In 2009, Levern accepted the Neligh High School Outstanding Alumnus Award.) He achieved FFA State Farmer status as a sophomore and received a Regents Scholarship upon graduation. He worked for three years as a rural school teacher after attending what was then Wayne State Teachers College. Levern was in the U.S Army from 1953 to 1955, with the majority of his time being spent at Division Headquarters Company located near Stuttgart,Germany. From there he traveled to most of the countries of Europe. Stuttgart had a major opera company that operated 11 months of the year, and it was there that his lifelong passion for opera began. After his military service, Levern returned to college in Wayne, majoring in social science. At this time, he began entertaining, singing folk music, as well as Country Western with guitar accompaniment.

In 1956, Levern enrolled at Colorado State College in Greeley, CO, where he was employed at the Weld County Library, until earning his B.A. Degree in 1958. After one year of teaching history in Manzanola, CO (his $110 stipend from the Army had expired), he earned his M.S. in History and Political science. He then toured Russia and other countries. A nation deserving of special mention is Sweden, where he visited long-lost relatives. Relationships formed at this time have lasted up to his death. The next major development of his life was the move to Leigh, NE, to teach Social Sciences and coach drama. Joann Jacobsen of Silver Creek, NE, a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska Lincoln, also arrived arriving in Leigh to teach home economics. She and Levern married on December 22, 1963. They lived in Columbus until 1964, when they moved back to the Neligh area to begin their farming years. In 1968 they purchased the farm homesteaded by Levern’s maternal grandparents Forsell in 1881 and resided there until October 2024 when they moved to assisted living. During his many farming years, Levern always kept a flock of laying hens that contained at one time or another almost all of the poultry breeds known to exist.

In 1985, they were honored with the Great Nebraska Family Award, and in 2002, they received the Pioneer Farm Family award. Levern was always interested in drama, and he acted, directed, wrote, and produced stage work for more than six decades.

Antelope County Historical Society lost our elder statesman, our resident historian and one of Antelope County’s most dedicated champions of local history on March 28 when Levern Glenn Hauptmann died at the age of 92.

This article reprinted from Antelope County Museum Historical Society August 2025 Newsletter.