Elaine I. Beirow

Elaine Iris Beirow, 96, died on January 29, 2026, at The Kensington in Hastings. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kenesaw. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Holstein following a luncheon. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Apfel Funeral Home in Hastings. Apfel Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Online condolences can be sent to www.apfelfuneralhome.com.

Elaine was born on August 18, 1929, to Vernon H and Eva C. (Marchand) Routh. She was raised on a farm near Holstein and attended Holstein School. She graduated from Holstein High School in 1946. Following graduation, she and her future siter-in-law (Aryllis “Pinky” Beirow) roomed together in Hastings and Elaine was employed by the Lincoln Telephone Company and the Hastings Daily Tribune. On May 8, 1948, she was united in marriage to Darwin D. Beirow at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Santa Ana, California. To this marriage four children were born: Candis Kay (Candy), Sandra Ann, Diana Jean (D.D), and Danny Dean.

They started their journey together in military life and over the next 21 years they made their home in many different places: England, Italy, California, North Carolina, South Dakota, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. They eventually returned to the Holstein area and back to the farm. In the spring of 2003, they moved from the farm to Kenesaw, Nebraska. In December 2023, they moved to The Kensington in Hastings.

Over the years they had 45 different addresses but regardless of whether they were living in a travel trailer, rented rooms, hotel, apartment, or house, Elaine always made it a comfortable home. She had many hobbies such as sewing, knitting, wood burning, and genealogy research. She and Darwin enjoyed many activities including square dancing and traveling. They spent many winters in Texas and were able to travel to Alaska twice. She was a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and belonged to different ladies’ groups in the church wherever they were living. She especially treasured time spent with her two granddaughters and then her great-granddaughter and great-grandson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter, Sandra Ann; brother-in-law Darrell (Sid) Joynt.

She is survived by her husband, Darwin; daughters: Candy (Paul) Andres, Diana Golden; son, Danny Beirow; granddaughters: Cassandra Boisen, Jennifer (Jered) Koch; great-granddaughter, Kaitlyn (Isaiah Bryner; great-grandson, Evan Koch; sister-in-law, Pinky Joynt; brother-in-law, Gale (Paula) Beirow; and nieces and nephews.