About Us
Who we are
Friends of Antelope Valley Church is a Nebraska Non-profit created in 2017 and operating as a 501(c)3 under the Kearney Community Foundation. The purpose of the group is to restore and maintain Antelope Valley Church.
Board of Directors
Ardeen McCord, Chairman
202 West 3rd
Oshkosh, NE 69154
Silvia White, Vice Chairman
8751 South 1st Street
Lincoln, NE 69154
Dixie Gortemaker, Secretary
4628 Road 175
Oshkosh, NE 69154
Mary Kay Robinson-Boone, Treasurer
17980 Road 58
Oshkosh, NE 69154
Kay Peterson
18570 Road 82
Oshkosh, NE 69154
Lucille Cooper
7059 Road 151
Lisco, NE 69148
Doug Riley
115 South Washington Avenue
Burns, WY 82053
Jim Olson
17798 Road 52 A
Oshkosh, NE 69154
Starla Queen
1260 Lakeview West Road
Brule, NE 69127
Board of Directors
Ardeen McCord, Chairman
202 West 3rd
Oshkosh, NE 69154
Silvia White, Vice Chairman
8751 South 1st Street
Lincoln, NE 69154
Dixie Gortemaker, Secretary
4628 Road 175
Oshkosh, NE 69154
Mary Kay Robinson-Boone, Treasurer
17980 Road 58
Oshkosh, NE 69154
Kay Peterson
18570 Road 82
Oshkosh, NE 69154
Lucille Cooper
7059 Road 151
Lisco, NE 69148
Doug Riley
115 South Washington Avenue
Burns, WY 82053
Jim Olson
17798 Road 52 A
Oshkosh, NE 69154
Starla Queen
1260 Lakeview West Road
Brule, NE 69127
History of Friends of Antelope Valley Church
"As I began my prayers, after getting home from Antelope Valley Churchboard meeting, I thanked God for our success in raising money to start the restoration fund. We held our first meeting in October of 2016 to see if there was enough interest to start a fund raising drive. Thirty-three people came to that meeting with a vision that was unanimous to try to restore the church.
As I thought about the church, the cemetery and the people buried there, my heart swelled with compassion for those people and the hardships they overcame to complete that church. Mrs. John Kiley (Sylvia) had a vision, or a dream, to build a church where the pioneer families could go to worship. It was originally called the Sylvia Unioin Church. I like to think that Sylvia and all of the others of the original congregations are aware of the work and money being donated to restore this grand old church. The church was inactive for a few years and then in 1947 it was reorganized by Madeline Rentzsch under the American Sunday School Union. It was active for 45-50 years. Madeline was my aunt and this church was her pride and joy. I can feel her love when I am working on the project.
William Charles Blain was buried there June 29, 1897. There are at least 50 veterans from the Mexican War, Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korean War and Vietnam War buried in Antelope Valley Cemetery.
We welcome all ideas you might have on fundraising and restoration, also any ideas you might have about using this church after we have it completed."
Ardeen McCord
As I thought about the church, the cemetery and the people buried there, my heart swelled with compassion for those people and the hardships they overcame to complete that church. Mrs. John Kiley (Sylvia) had a vision, or a dream, to build a church where the pioneer families could go to worship. It was originally called the Sylvia Unioin Church. I like to think that Sylvia and all of the others of the original congregations are aware of the work and money being donated to restore this grand old church. The church was inactive for a few years and then in 1947 it was reorganized by Madeline Rentzsch under the American Sunday School Union. It was active for 45-50 years. Madeline was my aunt and this church was her pride and joy. I can feel her love when I am working on the project.
William Charles Blain was buried there June 29, 1897. There are at least 50 veterans from the Mexican War, Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korean War and Vietnam War buried in Antelope Valley Cemetery.
We welcome all ideas you might have on fundraising and restoration, also any ideas you might have about using this church after we have it completed."
Ardeen McCord