Gary Stephens

Kearney resident, 68

GRAND ISLAND - Gary L. Stephens, 68, of Kearney died Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at Golden Living Center Lakeview in Grand Island.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church in Kearney with the Rev. Lew Champ officiating. Burial will be at Elm Creek Cemetery.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. today at O'Brien-Straatmann Funeral Home in Kearney.

He was born July 9, 1941, in Elm Creek to Robert and Loraine (Glaser) Stephens.

On July 8, 1962, he married Janice Barnes in Elm Creek.

Survivors include his wife; daughters, Janet Stephens, Melinda Schwarz and her husband, Damian, Kristine Hill and her husband, Tiny, Cindi Bednarz and her husband, Mark, and Susan Ballain and her husband, Bob, all of Kearney; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother, Craig and his wife, Vicki, of Bertrand; and sister, Arlys Lange and her husband, Roger, of Overland Park, Kan.

He grew up in Elm Creek and graduated from Elm Creek High School. In January 1966, he graduated from culinary school at the Occupational Training Center in Sidney. He lived his adult life in Kearney. He was an insurance salesman for Nebraska Farmer and Security Specialist. He also owned G&M Tree & Lawn from 1993-2001. He retired for health reasons in 2002. He was a member of First Christian Church in Elm Creek before transferring his membership to Kearney in the early 1980s.

He was preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter, Brittany.

Memorials are suggested to the church. Online condolences or personal reflections may be submitted at osafh.com.