Gerald Wibbels

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In Loving Memory of Gerald Eugene Wibbels

     Gerald E. Wibbels made his final move to his heavenly home on July 7, 2021.  He was 94 years old.  Dad was born on September 18, 1926, to Richard Elmer Wibbels and Eva Blanche (White) Wibbels in Arcadia, Nebraska.  He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Arcadia High School in 1944.

     Dad was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. He was inducted into the Army in 1945 and spent one year of his military service in South Korea in the 52^nd Signal Battalion. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal, and the Word War II Victory Medal for his service to his country.

     After returning home he married Orma Rae Lutz (Arcadia) on June 24, 1947. They made their home and farmed in the Arcadia area.  Their first baby, John Edwin (1948), was still-born and his death was a great loss for them.  By 1953, they were blessed with four more children.  In 1955, they moved to the Clinton, Iowa area where they continued farming and 2 more children were added to the family. In 1964, the family moved to the city of Clinton where Dad began working at DuPont. Then in 1974, their last child, Sara, was born.

     He and Mom were always interested in helping young people, both at church and the Clinton Job Corp where they befriended young people from all over the nation.

     Dad worked at the DuPont plant in Clinton for a number of years.  After his retirement from DuPont in 1985, they moved to Broken Bow, Nebraska where he worked for almost 15 years as a custodian for the Broken Bow School District.  As always, he loved being around young people and became known as “Grandpa” to many.

     Dad and Mom moved briefly to Oregon but returned back to their hometown of Arcadia, Nebraska.   Dad eventually moved to Ord, Nebraska where he spent 4 years at Grandview Assisted Living.  His final 3½ years were spent at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell.

     Dad always enjoyed working outdoors.  Later in his life he mowed lawns around town and kept it up for as long as he was able.  We remember him as a man who loved to tell jokes, tease his kids, and be around people and his family.  He loved his Lord, church life and anything John Deere, and we miss him greatly.

     Dad is survived by his 7 children – Diane Wilson (Steve) of Clarkdale, Arizona; Jenifer Barr (Chuck) of Clinton, Iowa; Sharon Tunink (Dave) of Montgomery, Texas; Lee Wibbels (Jeannine) of Canby, Oregon; Mike Wibbels (Jodi) of Englewood, Colorado; Joe Wibbels of Central City, Nebraska; and Sara Heil (Rob) of Hill City, South Dakota; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two sisters – Ruth Apperson of Blair, Nebraska; Janet Hansen (Dean) of Edgar, Nebraska and numerous nieces and nephews. 

    He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Orma, of 59 years; son, John Edwin; one grandson; one great-grandson; daughter-in-law, Jody Wibbels; and his sister, Elinor Moody.

     His “adopted” granddaughter, Jen Busch and her husband Dave and family of Burwell, have been very special people in Dad’s life.  The Busch’s were there for Dad when family could not be.

     The graveside service will be held at the Arcadia Cemetery at 11:00 on September 18, 2021, with the memorial service following at United Methodist Church in Arcadia at 12:00pm. Light refreshments will follow the service.  In lieu of flowers we suggest donations be made to New Hope Assembly of God, PO Box 6, Burwell, NE 68823.  Please put in memo “Youth and Children’s Department” in memory of Gerald Wibbels.