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Jerome Bydalek Obituary
February 5, 1933 - January 24, 2025
Jerome (Jerry) Joseph Bydalek passed away at Heritage Nursing Home January 24, 2025 at the age of 91 after a short battle with cancer. Services will be held on Friday, January 31, at 11 am MST at Faith Lutheran Church, 2055 U Street, Gering, NE. There will be no visitation. The service will be live streamed on the Bridgman Funeral Home Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Faith Lutheran Church. Interment will be in Kearney, NE at a later date. Online condolences may be made by viewing his memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com.
Jerry was born on February 5, 1933 at the family farm in Ashton NE, the third child of Cyrus Bydalek and Clara (Nowicki) Bydalek. He graduated from Ashton High School in 1950. After high school, he joined the army and was stationed at Fort Bragg, CA before serving in Korea for 2 years. After serving in Korea, he attended Kearney State College and earned a teaching certificate. At Kearney, he met his wife of 67 years, Norine nee Wurdeman.
After teaching and coaching basketball at Franklin High School and Columbus Lakeview High School, he turned a summer job of beekeeping into a lifetime career. He started Republican Valley Apiaries and operated this business with the help of his son until the age of 87.
He had fond memories of coaching basketball and talked often about various players, teams and games. His one and only hobby was all things golf. He enjoyed playing in leagues, watching it on TV and perfecting his game through his golf magazines. He loved all living creatures, dogs, cats, squirrels and birds. Especially his beloved Bichons', Mille and Pixie. He was most proud of producing a quality honey product and perfecting the art of pancake making.
He is survived by his wife Norine; daughter Brenda (Mike) Sindt of Scottsbluff, NE; son, Mark (Julie) Bydalek of Kearney, NE; daughter, Amy (Kevin) Kloess of Linn Creek, MO ; 9 grandchildren Janel (Keegan) Harkins, Nathan (Faith) Sindt, Marcie (Landon) Oelke, Braden Sindt, Mitchell Bydalek, Shawn Bydalek, Aiden Bydalek, Megan (Jimmy) Moreno, Mirae (Seth) Fornander; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters Jane (Larry)Tuscany of Michigan, Betty Leonhardt of Kansas City; sisters-in-law Corinne Wurdeman of Columbus and Barbara Bydalek of Lincoln; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sister Elaine Maciejewski and brothers Donald and Jack; brothers-in-law Boyd Leonhardt, Jim Maciejewski, Vic Wilke and Don Wurdeman; sister-in-law Arlene Wilke; nieces Deanne Maciejewski Carpenter and Donna Maciejewski Gancos and nephew Barry Wilke.
Bridgman Funeral Home
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Memories and Condolences
for Jerome Bydalek
4 Entries
Denis Blank
February 8, 2025
Have always had the greatest admiration and respect for Coach Bydalek. We shared a love and passion for basketball. He taught us how to win on the court and in life.
Denis Blank
Class of 1965
Franklin, NE
Sharon Wiedel
January 29, 2025
S o sorry for your loss.
Brenda Garlewicz
January 28, 2025
So sorry for your loss Mark.
Melody Antholz
January 28, 2025
Mark and Julie and families our prayers are with all of you.
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