Gary B. Philips

Funeral Services for Gary B. Philips will be conducted from the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand, Nebraska on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Gary Panko officiating. Interment will be in the Highland Cemetery at Bertrand with Military Honors provided by the Bertrand Veterans Organization in conjunction with the U.S. Army National Guard Military Honors Team.

Gary Bryce "Grump" Philips, 75 years of age, of rural Bertrand, passed away on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Gary was born September 15, 1936 at Holdrege, Nebraska, the eldest of four children born to Bryce A. and Louise M. (Canada) Philips. He received his primary education in a country school southeast of Bertrand and then graduated from Bertrand High School with the class of 1954. Following his education, Gary served his country in the United States Army from December 2, 1958 until his honorable discharge on November 18, 1960. He then continued to serve in the Army Reserves until December 1, 1964. While in the service, he drove a wrecker and served with the 24th Engineering Battalion in Germany.

On January 16, 1965 he was united in marriage to Claudia A. Hollenbeck and to this union two children were born: Lona Louise and Gary Reed. The family made their home southeast of Bertrand, where Gary engaged in farming and fed cattle, hogs and sheep. Raising livestock was his passion.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist Church, where he continued his membership for 42 years until he transferred his membership to the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand. Gary served on the Methodist Church Board; he also served on the Bertrand Community School Board, the Bertrand/Smithfield CO-OP Board, served as Treasurer of the Union Township Board, and was a member of the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife, Claudia of rural Bertrand; one daughter, Lona Dahlgren and her husband, Andy of Bertrand; one son, Reed Philips and his wife, Sheila of rural Bertrand; seven grandchildren: Brooke, Ryan, and Halle Dahlgren and Kara, Courtney, Bryce and Livia Philips; two brothers: Ronald Philips and his wife, Lois of Navarre, Florida and Craig Philips and his wife, Karen of Loomis, Nebraska; one sister, Kay Lavene and her husband, Doyle of Kearney, Nebraska; sisters-in-law: Eleanor Thomsen of Holdrege, Gwen Schroder of North Glenn, Colorado, Gayle Correll of Willimantic, CT, and Carol Leopold of North Glenn, CO; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Elizabeth Faith Philips; sisters-in-law: Genevieve Leopold and her husband, Floyd, Martha Barnett and her husband, Richard, Jean Harlja and her husband, Frank; and brothers-in-law: John Hollenbeck, Darrel Thomsen and Duane Schroder.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand is in charge of the arrangements.