Gerard D. Gengenbach

Gerard Gengenbach passed away peacefully on November 28, 2024 in Cozad, Nebraska. Gerard was born May 21, 1943, to Martin and Estelline (Kiesel) Gengenbach. He was the third of five siblings and known for his smile and his sense of humor. 

As a child, Gerard loved all things western: horses, roping, rodeo, his Roy Rogers ‘dinner pail,’ and motorcycles. He played the accordion, often accompanied by his dad on the Spanish guitar and his brother, Marlin, on the steel guitar. 

Gerard attended District 34 Country School through eighth grade and Cozad High School through his freshman year. In 1958, before his sophomore year, Gerard transferred to Gothenburg High School, when his family moved to Gothenburg from the Cozad family farm. Gerard graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1961.

After graduating, Gerard worked with his father on the family farm and provided custom farming. He took great pride in the farm and enjoyed the years he spent working with his dad, who was his hero. In 1963, Gerard joined the National Guard, where he proudly served for five years.

In March of 1969, Gerard married Muriel Oberg of Gothenburg. Together they had two daughters, Lauri and Stephanie. As a father, Gerard enjoyed snow skiing and motorcycling. He spent summer weekends at their cabin on Jeffrey Lake, where he enjoyed extended family times. For Gerard, there really was no ‘time-off’ however, as his farming remained at the forefront of his responsibilities. Gerard took great care of everything he was responsible for - including his farm, his fields, his farming equipment, and his daughters. He was a sacrificial provider and modeled the value of good, old-fashioned ‘hard work’ to his daughters.

His marriage to Muriel ended in 1988. In 1991, he reconnected with his junior high crush, Connie Hanna. Never to be outdone by a good challenge, Gerard spent four years courting Connie long-distance, traveling from Nebraska to California, where Connie resided. Gerard was never fond of travel, and after four (long) years and thousands of airline miles, Gerard proposed, convincing Connie it would be easier for her to move her teaching career to Nebraska, than for him to move his cornfields to California. The couple married on November 26, 1994, in Lake Tahoe (during a blizzard), and Connie subsequently relocated to Cozad (for more blizzards). Family and friends knew Gerard had met his match when he gave up his Pabst Blue Ribbon for a glass of wine.

Once married, Gerard introduced Connie to ‘country’ life, farming, Roy Rogers, and his favorite actor, Clint Eastwood. Through Connie, Gerard became a seasoned sideline ‘gambler,’ participating in the annual Hanna-family sports pools, which were always competitive. Gerard (reluctantly) traded his cowboy boots for golf shoes as he joined Connie on the Cozad golf course. Throughout their marriage, Gerard and Connie shared a love of dancing – particularly, the two-step. 

While Gerard retired from farming in 2014, he never stopped caring for the land he was born on, trading his tractors for a lawn mower, and his cornfields for his lawn. After retiring, he and Connie enjoyed traveling (usually to California), as well as several trips to Mexico with close friends. Gerard’s sense of humor and love of practical jokes remained a constant throughout their marriage. His favorite prank was ‘surprising’ Connie with a ‘mink’ scarf on her birthdays and sometimes even at Christmas. On November 26, 2024, they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. 

Gerard was preceded in death by his father, Martin (1970), his mother, Estelline (1982), his sister, Carol Gengenbach Filler (2002), his sister-in-law, Sharon Hanna (2004), his brother-in-law, Dave Hanna (2021), and his brother, Marlin Gengenbach (2023). He is survived by his wife, Connie (Hanna) Gengenbach (Cozad); his daughters, Lauri (Todd) Garretson, (Atlanta, GA); Stephanie (Scott) Strauss, (Denver, CO); and a step-son, Ryan (Afsoon) Turner, (Hillsborough, CA). He is also survived by his sister, Sandy (Ron) Jobman (Kearney); his brother, Larry (Connie) Gengenbach (Eustis); and eight grandchildren: Lauren, Landon, Lex, and Lily Garretson; Peyton and Griffin Strauss; Jake and Audrey Turner; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Gerard’s life will be held in Cozad at the Berryman Funeral Home chapel on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 3:30pm. 

Memorials may be made to Cozad Country Club, Cozad Fire and Rescue, or the Cozad Alumni Association. Please direct your memorials to: 42181 Road 768, Cozad, NE 69130.