Ed Gebauer

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LAKIN -- Ed Gebauer, 73, died Tuesday, May 6, 2008, at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin.

He was born Aug. 18, 1934, in Washington County, Colo., to August Williams and Nellie Daniels Gebauer, and grew up in Washington County. The youngest of seven children, he had the responsibility of helping to run the farm since he was 11. He would do all the farm work, from milking the cows to farming the land.

In 1956, he began a career with Kansas Nebraska Gas Co., eventually moving to eight towns before being promoted to division manager and settling in Lakin in 1980. He retired from the company after 39 years.

Mr. Gebauer was a member of the United Methodist Church, A.F. & A.M. Emerald Lodge No. 289, Order of Eastern Star No. 244 and the Santa Fe Trail Shrine Club. He became a Scout Master while his sons were in Scouts, and became one of the Nebraska Scout Masters in 1966, helping to revise the Boy Scout Hand Book and earning two special honors, the Order of the Arrow and the Brotherhood Award. He enjoyed spending time with his family, taking his children camping and skiing. In 1995, he began donating his time to help others and made a total of 21 mission trips to help other countries, including Mexico, Ghana, Spain, Peru, Finland, South Africa and Ecuador, and also donated time in Hawaii and Alaska. Known as a creative, romantic and lovable person, he loved to give hugs.

On June 28, 1953, he married Winona Wagner in Akron, Colo. She survives. Other survivors include two sons, Kent Gebauer of Boise, Colo., and Kurt Gebauer of Pueblo, Colo.; a daughter, Lisa Grant of Onalaska, Texas; a sister, June Rathjen of Conway, Ark.; three grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael; his parents; and five sisters, Valora Shawcross, Alice Milburn, Wilma Rupp, Fern Goble and Irene Scrivener.

Funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church, Lakin, with the Rev. Tod Anthony officiating. Graveside service will be 11 a.m. CT Saturday at Akron Cemetery in Colorado.

Visitation hours are 6 to 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Garnand Funeral Home, Lakin. Condolences may be sent at garnandfh@sbcglobal.net. Memorials are suggested to the Lakin Pride Committee for a restroom at Ad McVey Park, in care of the funeral home.