Greg Poland

Ravenna, NE – Greg Poland age 55 of Ravenna, NE passed away January 2, 2025, at the Kearney Regional Hospital.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Broken Bow, NE. The family requests that those attending Greg’s funeral dress casual and comfortable. Memorials are suggested to the Ravenna Boy Scout Troop, Ravenna Lions Club, or Ansley Fire & Rescue. A visitation will be held on Sunday, January 12th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com. 

Greg Leon Poland was born on December 25, 1969, to Dale and Lucielle (Finley) Poland. He grew up in Berwyn and could often be found causing mischief with his best friend Tim Moore and the other neighborhood kids and was heavily involved in 4-H. He attended school at Berwyn through 8th grade and went to high school at Broken Bow graduating in 1988. After high school, he graduated from Western Nebraska Technical College in Sidney, Nebraska with a heavy equipment operator certificate. From an early age Greg developed a strong work ethic delivering newspapers just like his older three siblings making it a 21-year streak of a Poland delivering papers in Berwyn. He would go on to work for Jim Millsap in the Berwyn area through high school. After college, he worked road construction for Knight Brothers and Biba before driving truck for Double O and Howard Transportation. After trucking, he worked various jobs including Landell Thelen, Abengoa Bioenergy, Baldwin Filters, and most recently Nutrien Ag Solutions. All the while Greg would drive truck part-time for Art Anderson, Dale Zoerb, and many others when they would ask for his help. Greg made many friends and left a lasting impression (good or bad) at every stop. 

Greg volunteered with several organizations throughout his life. He was a volunteer firefighter in Berwyn and Ansley for over 15 years. He was a Scoutmaster for the Ansley Boy Scout Troop for five years and took great pride in completing Wood Badge Leadership training. He continued to volunteer with the Ravenna Boy Scout Troop and also helped with the Ravenna Lion’s Roller Skating. Greg was always willing to lend a hand to friends, family, and strangers who needed it. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, and spending time with family near and far. At the end of the day though there was nowhere he would rather be than by a bonfire with a cold Busch Light in his hand hanging out with the cats, neighbor Brian Birkby, and anyone else who may stop by. 

Greg was preceded in death by his parents, sister Robyn Sayer, sister-in-law Mavis Poland, and brothers-in-law David Sayer and Jim Bennett. 

Survivors include brother Alan Poland of Columbus, sister Ivie Bennett of Lincoln, his fiancé of 16 years Shannon Mercer and their daughter Dani Poland of Ravenna, son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter Joel, Shannon, and Lilah Poland of Columbus, future father-in-law Jim Nutt of Central City, 3 “double” stepdaughters Candi Hasbrouck of Cozad, Cassi Mercer of Archer, Cristi (Nick) Wolfe of Cozad, future brother-in-law Craig (Ronda) Nutt of Park Rapids, MN, a niece and three nephews, 7 bonus grandchildren, and 8 great nieces and nephews.