Gary R. Strong, 75, of Tekamah NE

Leslie W. and Mildred (Sterns) Strong were having a Sunday family meal on June 9, 1940. Gary R. Strong was unexpectedly born at his Uncle Charles and Aunt Ruth Strong’s farm in Atkinson, Nebraska that day. Gary died at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair, Nebraska on June 27, 2015, at the age of 75, after receiving wonderful care for over a year at the Golden Living Center in Tekamah, Nebraska.

In the early forties, the Strong family moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where Gary graduated from Omaha Tech High in 1959. He married Fran Method on April 27, 1963. Into this union, Gary’s son Chris immediately made them a family of three. A year later, twins Teresa and Gary Ray Strong II were born in Omaha. In 1972, the family moved to Tekamah.

Gary operated a crane for over 20 years at Cargo Carriers in Omaha. For 25 years, Gary was a welder at Con-E-Co in Blair, retiring in December of 2005. In addition, Gary also worked at side jobs, helping others fix broken things. At home, Gary loved to tinker in his garage or remodel his house. He was a magnificent craftsman who could build or fix almost anything. On most any project, one small piece would be left flawed or deliberately omitted, his personal stamp.

He was preceded in death by his son, Chris; father, Leslie Strong; mother, Mildred Pride; stepfather, Floyd Pride Sr.; brother, Donald Strong; sister-in-law, Nancy (Method) Dobberthien.

Survivors include his wife, Fran of Tekamah; daughter, Teresa (Mark) Strong-Hilger of Omaha; son, Gary (Marisol) Strong II of Midwest City, OK; five grandchildren, Nash and Clara Zahm, Eddy, Michelle and Dexter Strong; brothers, Roland (Shirley) Strong and Floyd Pride Jr. of Omaha; sister, Sandra (Larry) Larsen of Blair; aunt, Doris Moss of Sioux City, IA; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, July 3, 2015 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Tekamah, Nebraska.

VISITATION: Thursday 6-8 p.m., with family receiving friends, at Pelan Funeral Services Tekamah, and one hour prior to service time at the church.

BURIAL at a later date.

MEMORIALS: United Methodist Church – Tekamah, Tekamah Public Library Foundation or Tekamah Fire and Rescue.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com

Gary Strong