Gary W. Tvrs

Gary Wayne Tvrs, 75 of Dalton, Nebraska passed from this earth on April 3, 2015 at his home in Dalton surrounded by the love of his family.

            Gary was born on July 29, 1939 in a little house on a hilltop at Hay Springs, Nebraska. He was the second son of James and Emma (Konapasek) Tvrs. Gary grew up on the family farm, knowing from a young age what it was to work for a living. At the tender age of nine he joined a crew of young men, who when school dismissed for the year, would harvest hay. Gary and the other youngsters would pack their bags, board a small plane, and fly to the Forney Ranch in the sandhills to work for the summer. He continued this until he graduated from Hay Springs High School in 1957. Following graduation Gary enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was a gun specialist and stationed at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He was discharged in 1960 and returned home where he started working for Northwest Rural Public Power, learning the trade that would support his family and inspire his sons and grandson to follow in his footsteps.

            In 1964 Gary went to work for Hamlin Electric Company in Ft. Morgan, Colorado. He worked for Hamlin for 39 years until his retirement in 2001. While in Ft. Morgan he met the love of his life, Barbara Sue Gollehon. After a whirlwind courtship of six months, they married on September 27, 1964. To this union two sons and a daughter were born. The family resided in Ft. Morgan until September of 1971 when they moved to Dalton, where Gary and Sue made their home for most of the 50 wonderful years they were married. Sue kept the house and kids while Gary spent the week on the road keeping the lights of the world on.

            Gary loved spending time with his family, just visiting or teaching them of the things he loved. Boating, waterskiing, fishing, camping, goose hunting, kite flying, model trains and woodworking were just a few of his hobbies. He built the cabinets in their home and has made it through many a home remodel project at their house or one of the kids.

            Gary has been fishing at many local lakes as well as Canada, the Alaska Kenai Peninsula, and the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. He passed his love of kite flying and model trains to his family and has a collection that rivals a few and dedicated a room to a hobby he loved. Gary and Sue loved camping and in later years moved on to the finer comforts of a home on wheels. They enjoyed traveling the lower 48 states, Canada and Alaska after they both had retired, visiting children or just having fun with their camping club.

            Gary was a member of the Elks (Chadron), American Legion (Hay Springs), Eagles (Bridgeport), the Dalton Lions Club, Dalton Fire Department, Lodgepole Valley Good Sams Camping Club, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #1525 out of Omaha, Nebraska.

            Gary is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sue of Dalton, NE; his children: Jeff and Kris Tvrs of Sidney, NE, Barb and Russ Krafft of Eagle River, AK and Ed and Denise Tvrs of West Liberty, IA; grandchildren: Garret (Katy) and Jamison Tvrs; Maggie, Carlee and James Tvrs Krafft and Mason and Gaige Tvrs; great-granddaughter Emerson Tvrs; his faithful companion Muffin; two nieces and one nephew.

            Gary was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Dick and Robert Lee; in-laws: Floyd and Louis Gollehon and John and Margaret Manning and a granddaughter Valorie Krafft.

            Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, April 8, 2015 in the Parish of the Plains, Trinity site in Dalton with Pastor Eric Alm officiating. Burial with military rites will follow in the Dalton Cemetery.

            Memorials contributions may be made to the Shriners Crippled Children Fund.

            Visitation will be held from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Holechek Funeral Home with the family present.