University of Nebraska Sophomore, Hailey Reese Veil, Studying Early Childhood Education, Dies Two Days Before Turning 20

Hailey Reese Veil, a 19-year-old University of Nebraska student from Lincoln, passed away on May 23, 2026, just two days before she would have turned 20.

Her death has left behind a grieving family, a sorority sisterhood, and a wide circle of friends who remember her as someone who made every room feel warmer and every person feel seen.

Hailey is survived by her parents, Nick and Shari Veil, and her brother, Carson. She is also survived by her grandparents, Jeff and Lavon Veil, and John and Rosalie Long; her great-grandmother, Christina Long; her aunts and uncles, Jamison and Marie Veil, Lorena and Sonny Phrommanny, Annie and Russell Gerhardt, Sandi and Perry Piatz, and Lisa and Nathan Neameyer; as well as dozens of cousins she loved deeply.

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A Young Woman With a Purpose

At the University of Nebraska, Hailey was pursuing a degree in early childhood education with an emphasis in special education.

She had just completed her second year and was a proud member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, where she found friendships and a sisterhood she genuinely treasured.

Her choice of major was no accident. Hailey had a natural gift for making people feel accepted and valued, and she intended to build a career around that.

Beyond the classroom, she had a generous spirit that showed up in action. She helped coordinate her sorority’s fundraising efforts for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and was an All Seasons Lifesaver with the Nebraska Community Blood Bank.

She had recently reached her first gallon milestone in blood donation, a milestone she wore as a point of pride.

In high school, Hailey had been involved in the show choir, the unified choir, which brought together general and special education students, and swimming. She also spent years in gymnastics and taekwondo. Music ran through her daily life.

She was often heard singing around the house, rarely without a project in her hands, whether crocheting, painting, or crafting something new.

A Life Full of Laughter and Love

People who knew Hailey describe someone who was playful, mischievous, and fiercely loyal. She was a collector of many things, which meant her room was always a little messy and full of life, exactly the way she was.

She grew up close with a cul-de-sac crew and kept those bonds tight through late-night boba tea runs and the kind of friendship that does not need an occasion to show up.

She was confident in who she was and lived that truth openly. Her favorite shirt read: live. laugh. lesbian. She created spaces where people felt safe and accepted without condition.

Above all, Hailey adored her brother, Carson. Whether they were working together, playing video games, or simply sitting beside each other without a word, those were some of her happiest moments.

Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, at 10 a.m. at Roper and Sons South Lincoln Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska. Her favorite flower was a lily. Memorials in her honor may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Nebraska Community Blood Bank.

She was 19 years old. She will not be forgotten.