Linda R. Beermann of Lincoln, a pathbreaking television weather reporter and newscaster and community volunteer, died at home of natural causes on Nov. 25, 2022, after enjoying a Thanksgiving holiday with friends, family, a new kitten and FaceTiming with grandchildren. She was 76 years old.
Linda was born in Nebraska City to Walter and Rosalin Dierking on Oct. 13, 1946. After graduating from Nebraska City High School, she attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she majored in broadcast journalism and graduated as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Linda worked as a reporter for KMTV in Omaha before joining Lincoln’s KOLN/KGIN-TV in 1968 as a reporter and photographer. She became the weekend weather newscaster in 1970 in addition to continuing to work as a reporter and news assignment editor.
She married Allen J. Beermann, who was then serving his first term as Nebraska’s secretary of state, on May 23, 1971, at an Edwardian-themed wedding at Arbor Lodge State Historic Park in Nebraska City, complete with horse-drawn carriages. The couple rode in a historic carriage that was last used by President Grover Cleveland on a visit to Arbor Lodge.
Linda continued her broadcasting career and in 1979 became the station’s full-time evening weather newscaster, the first woman in the country to hold such a position at a local television station. She was featured in ads promoting the station and was in demand to emcee civic and cultural events during her years there.
Linda resigned from her television news career in 1986 to have more time to be with her two pre-school sons, Matthew and Jay, and to join Allen in his political and civic activities.
The couple traveled to more than 50 countries and hosted numerous international visitors during Allen’s years as secretary of state and his subsequent service as executive director of the Nebraska Press Association.
In addition to her political involvement with Allen, Linda also co-chaired the centennial celebration of Arbor Day, co-emceed two governors’ inaugural balls and was involved with the Nebraska Mothers Association’s Mother of the Year program, among other activities.
Linda is survived by: Allen J. Beermann, her husband of 51 years; sons Matthew Allen Beermann and his partner Adam Yarbrough of Kansas City, Missouri, and John (Jay) William Beermann, wife Julie Whorton, and grandsons Isaac and Luke of Oakland, California; brother William (Bill) Dierking and wife Patti of Golden, Colorado; nephews Chad Dierking of Arvada, Colorado, and Todd Dierking of Superior, Colorado.
Visitation with the family will be Friday, Dec. 2, from 5-7 p.m. at Roper & Sons South Chapel, 40th and Yankee Hill Road. The funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, at First Plymouth Congregational Church, 2000 D St., with a reception to follow at the church. A private burial will be held later in the day at Lincoln’s Wyuka Cemetery.
Memorials suggested to the Beermann Scholarship Fund through the Nebraska Press Association Foundation and Lincoln’s Rotary Club #14 Foundation.
