Before cable TV and smartphone apps, Nebraskans got their weather forecast from Linda Beermann - York News-Times

Ken Siemek archetypal encountered Linda Beermann successful the autumn of 1981, erstwhile helium started moving astatine Lincoln tv presumption KOLN-KGIN arsenic an intern.

Beermann astatine the clip was the station's pb upwind forecaster, a uncommon presumption for a pistillate successful the aboriginal 1980s. In fact, she whitethorn person been the archetypal pistillate successful the state to clasp specified a title.

"While I don't cognize that to beryllium true, I would not reason that constituent astatine all, that she was a pioneer, really, successful broadcasting for females, particularly successful the meteorology extremity of it," said Siemek, who worked with Beermann for astir 5 years until she near tv successful 1986 to walk much clip with her 2 young children.

After Beermann resigned, the presumption offered the pb forecaster presumption to Siemek, a relation that helium has present held for much than 35 years.

"If she astatine that clip would person decided to beryllium a moving mom, you mightiness ne'er person heard of Ken Siemek, and Ken Siemek and 10/11 mightiness ne'er person happened," helium said.

Beermann, who died Friday astatine the property of 76, spent astir 2 decades successful the tv quality business, archetypal astatine KMTV successful Omaha aft she graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, past astatine 10/11.

She started astatine the presumption arsenic a newsman and lensman successful 1968 and added play upwind forecasting to her duties successful 1970.

She took implicit the pb forecaster relation successful 1979 erstwhile longtime upwind forecaster Bob Taylor died of cancer. She held that role — oftentimes penning temperatures and forecasts and drafting frontal boundaries with dry-erase markers — until she near the concern successful 1986.

Siemek said helium was amazed astatine the clip erstwhile Beermann resigned due to the fact that "she was specified an iconic idiosyncratic and personality."

"There was a large transportation she had with the viewers, and she was precise good respected wrong our newsroom and truly the manufacture arsenic acold arsenic broadcast journalists were concerned," helium said, calling her a "larger-than-life" personality.

After leaving broadcasting, Beermann dedicated herself to raising her 2 sons arsenic good arsenic helping her husband, Allen, with his governmental career. Allen Beermann was Nebraska's caput of authorities from 1971-1995 and aboriginal led the Nebraska Press Association.

In summation to being a dedicated mother, Beermann besides was progressive successful galore charitable causes. The Nebraska City autochthonal co-chaired the centennial solemnisation of Arbor Day, and she co-emceed 2 governors’ inaugural balls and was progressive with the Nebraska Mothers Association’s Mother of the Year program.

In summation to her husband, Beermann is survived by her 2 sons, Matthew and John; a brother; and 2 grandsons.

Services for Beermann are acceptable for 9:30 a.m. Saturday astatine First-Plymouth Church, 2000 D St.