Gene Heath

Gene Heath, 80, of Oshkosh passed away Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at his home.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 8, 2022, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Oshkosh with Pastor Scotty Ray officiating.  Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Broadwater with military honors.

A reception will follow the graveside service at the Garden County Fraternal Order of Eagles Club #4283 in Oshkosh.

Services will be streamed live and available to watch after the service on the Holechek-Bondegard Facebook page (www.facebook.com/hbfunerals).

Visitation will be held Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home in Oshkosh with the casket closed.

Memorials in Gene's name can be made to the family for later designation.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Heath family.

Marion Eugene "Gene" Heath was born on March 6, 1941, to Harry E. and Ila Darlene (Bennett) Heath.

Gene attended several different schools in his life finally graduating from Broadwater High School in 1959. He then entered the Army and served for two years, most of the time was spent off the coast of France on a U-boat. He was honorably discharged in 1962, returning to Broadwater where he met and married Rena Kemerling on February 9, 1963, at the Lutheran Church in Oshkosh.

He worked at Bridgeport Equipment for a short time after marrying but decided he wanted to be a cowboy so in May of 1964 he went to work on a ranch in the sandhills for Don Vinton. From there he worked on a feedlot at Minatare but couldn't stay away from the ranch life. In June of 1965 he went to work for Rush Creek Land and Livestock at Broadwater for six months, leaving there to work for Joe Rice in Broadwater. In July of 1966 he went back to work for Rush Creek in Lisco. During his employment of 45 years with Rush Creek he moved up to become the manager over the King Ranch (Angora) in 1979 and then later in 1985 he moved back to Lisco to become the manager of the South Side, managing over seven places. After retiring in 2011 he moved to Oshkosh, got his CDL and did some trucking for Barry McVicker and Larry Gette for a while eventually ending up working at the Oshkosh Country Club.

Gene enjoyed roping for many years during his ranch life eventually switching to golf. He figured riding a golf cart was a bit easier on the knees than riding a horse. He was an avid competitor on the men's league, couple's league and any other chance to play the game including "Heath family golf day" when the family would get together and have fun competing against each other and just spending time together. Also, whenever Nebraska played, he was very devoted to watching the games, in his early years everyone learned to leave him alone while the game was being played because you never knew what the outcome would be.

Also, in his spare time he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, trying to be at every family event that he could which gave him endearing names such as: Dad, Grandpa Gene, Papa Gene, Papa Geney, Grandpa or far far away Grandpa. He was very loved by all and will be sadly missed.

Gene is survived by his three children, Kevin (Robin) Heath of Talala OK, Lonna (Mark) Porter of Douglas WY and Clay (Megan) Heath of Gordon NE, sister Patsy Sherfey of Alliance NE, brother Harry Heath of Lincoln NE; grandchildren, Chris Heath, Nichole Danks, Tyree Russell, Ashlee Porter, Bret Porter, Lynae Porter, Travis Estencion, Kelani Baber, Jada Heath, Cooper Heath; great-grandchildren, Jazlyn Ybarra, Kaelynn & Sydney Langston, Mark and Taelynn Russell, Harper & Rhys Fickel, Berklee Porter, Emma Estencion and Kenley Baber; and numerous aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Kenneth.