Meet the Team

Dave lost his father to suicide at the age of 10. The initial shock and feeling of guilt overwhelmed him at such a young age. Over time Dave realized it was not his fault for his father’s death. He founded the Central Nebraska LOSS Team with Renae to share his message and help anyone dealing with the gut-wrenching anguish following a loved one’s suicide in Central Nebraska.

LOSS Advisory Member | Central Nebraska

I am Renae Zimmer, Director of Student Engagement and Leadership at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. I have a passion for serving others, building meaningful connections, and making a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families throughout our community.

LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) is an organization that is especially dear to my heart. In 2014, I lost my brother, Ryan, to suicide. That loss forever changed my life and gave me a deeper understanding of the grief, heartache, and challenges families experience after losing someone they love.

My personal journey is what inspired me to become involved with LOSS. I know firsthand how important compassion, connection, and support can be during some of life’s most difficult moments. I am dedicated to helping families navigate their grief, reminding them they are not alone, and offering hope and understanding along the way.

I am incredibly grateful for the commitment LOSS has made to Central Nebraska over the years, providing outreach, resources, and compassionate support to individuals and families impacted by suicide loss. Being part of an organization that turns personal loss into meaningful support for others is truly an honor.

I serve in memory of my brother, Ryan, and with the hope that every family facing this kind of loss knows they are not alone.

Krista is a Kearney native who obtained her undergraduate degree from UNK. She obtained her Master’s from FHSU and Doctorate from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology. Krista has provided behavioral health services in some capacity for over 25 years and has been a UNK professor for over 10 years. She enjoys her faith, family, community, and friends in her free time.

Tina’s bio coming soon.

Lacey is an RN at Richard Young Behavioral health center. She is helping this group to support family and friends that have dealt with suicide, to assist with hope and recovery.

Amanda’s bio coming soon.

Tiffani is an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she also obtained her undergraduate degree in Organizational Communication. Tiffani’s brother died by suicide in August of 2019. Today, she is finding meaning through her own research, which focuses on resilience. She enjoys practicing and teaching yoga and stand up paddle boarding.