Emalie Kay Castner, 90, of Omaha, Nebraska, formerly of Columbus, Nebraska, died Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha, surrounded by her family.

Funeral arrangements at the Federated Church in Columbus are pending.

Emalie Kay and her twin, Rosalie Fay, were born on December 12, 1935, to Ralph and Lydia Anna (Giesman) Whitney in Sabetha, Kansas. Shortly after their birth, their paternal grandfather, Lambert Whitney, left a note on the kitchen table saying that the twins should be named after their grandmothers, Emma (Giesman) and Rosa (Whitney). However, asserting their own independence, Ralph and Lydia named their newborns Emalie Kay and Rosalie Fay. Rosalie died at the age of 2 months.

Kay, as everyone knew her, and her parents’, loved life on their family farm south of Dawson, Nebraska. Their community life was centered on rural Zion Evangelical & Reformed Church and Honey Creek School. Kay rode along as her father drove the school bus until she was old enough to attend herself. Kay missed many months of elementary school due to illness. At the recommendation of her doctors, a young Kay and her mother moved to Boulder and later Tucson to help stabilize recurring asthma. They wrote frequent letters to her father who remained at home on the farm. Kay recalled being in Tucson when World War II ended. She and her mother walked to the town square in Tucson for the celebration. Kay graduated from Honey Creek School in 1953 with her class of 10 students.

Kay graduated with an elementary education degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1957 where she was an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. Her first teaching job was at Lincoln’s Saratoga Elementary School.

In 1957 while still at NWU, Kay Whitney and Lloyd Castner, a University of Nebraska student, met on a blind date to the Auto Show at Omaha’s Civic Auditorium, where they saw the McGuire Sisters perform. They were engaged by December of that year and married May 17, 1958, in Dawson, NE, a loving bond that lasted 66 years until Lloyd’s passing in 2024.

In 1958, Kay and Lloyd set out for what would be the first of many adventures as Lloyd took on his first full-time role in Eugene, Oregon, as Assistant City Manager. Kay continued her teaching career at Frances Willard Elementary School until she was expecting their first son, Ralph. In 1965, the family of three moved to Ontario, Oregon, where both Clarey and Anna were born. It was there that Kay taught English to migrant workers’ preschool children in an effort to help them learn the language before entering first grade. When asked about teaching to students that only knew Spanish, she said “we all got along just dandy.”

The Castners returned to Nebraska in 1971, spending five years in Bellevue. Kay was active in the Alpha Gamma Delta Alumni group, First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, and was initiated into PEO, Chapter M. She also served as leader of her kids’ Cub Scout and Brownie troops.

In 1976, the family moved to Columbus, Nebraska, which they quickly knew would be their forever hometown. It was here that Kay found long-term community and friendships that lasted for the rest of her life. She served as a substitute teacher for Columbus Public Schools, and faithfully served in many roles – including being the first woman to serve communion – at The Federated Church in Columbus where she and her family worshiped. She was also very active in the community and involved with the Columbus Public Schools Foundation, Friends of the Lied (Lied Center for Performing Arts), PEO Chapter HA, Topaz Book Club, Sewing Club and multiple bridge clubs.

Throughout her adulthood, Kay continued to be an active owner of the Whitney family farm near Dawson, Nebraska. In 2006, she received the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award honoring a century of continuous ownership of a family farm.

Survivors include her loving children: Ralph Castner of Lincoln, Nebraska, Clarence L. Castner, Jr., (Estee Levy) of New York, and Anna (Jack) Castner Wightman of Omaha; grandsons Luke (Chelsea) Castner; and Nicholas (Emmy Jo) Castner of New York City, NY; William (Max) Grove of New York City, NY; Samuel Castner (fiancée Jenny Kortus) and Cole Castner of Lincoln; granddaughters Emalie Wightman and Margaret Wightman of Omaha; great-granddaughter Wesley Castner; great-grandson Walker Castner, Kim Castner and Ann Castner. Kay also valued her relationships with her loyal cousins, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Castner, parents, Lydia and Ralph Whitney. In addition to her twin, she also was preceded in death by her infant sister, Patricia June, and her niece, Pat (Castner) Grant.

The family extends their heartfelt appreciation to Marney Gass, Aksarben Retirement Village, Josie Harper Hospice House and Goff Family Farms, Inc., for their support and care.