Gene F. Setzer

Gene F. Setzer, 97, of Beatrice passed away at Beatrice Health and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014. He was in excellent health his whole life until he fell on August 27th breaking his hip and pelvis. He was born at the home place in Peru on May 8, 1917 to Fredrick (Ace) and Katie (Carter) Setzer. He graduated from Peru High School in 1935 and served in the United States Army during WWII. He married Lavina Moneypenny of Dorchester on January 25, 1942 in Nebraska City. They lived in Peru and Crete before moving to Beatrice in 1953. He worked as a grocer and baker his entire life including Red and White Grocery in Peru, Keystone Grocery in Crete, Geiger's IGA, Lovell's, Boogaarts and Grant St. Grocery in Beatrice.

His second job was at Sunrise Bakery where he worked for more than 45 years. He was the donut man for many years doing the early morning delivery of donuts and rolls. During the summers, he hauled melons from Kansas to many stores in Beatrice, Lincoln and Tecumseh for re-sale. He also sold them on his driveway out of the back of his truck. In the fall, he would haul apples and pumpkins. He had many faithful customers that stopped by each year. Depending on the season, he was known as the donut man, melon man or apple man. He also spent many years delivering groceries to the elderly. He retired in January 2011 at age 93. He was an avid Denver Bronco's fan.

Survivors include three sons, Virg Setzer and wife Sue of Centennial, CO, Mark Setzer and wife Kathy and Tom Setzer and wife Dawn of Beatrice; three daughters, Sally Diekman of Beatrice, Sarah Wienck and husband Ralph of Marysville, Kan. and Katie Ticnor and husband Scott of Beatrice; eighteen grandchildren, Jim Genrich of Beatrice, Angie Setzer of Booneville, Calif., Shelly Setzer of Castle Rock, Colo., Stacy Allgood of Beattie, Kan., Kristi Langford of Omaha, Jenny Behrens of Marysville, Kan., Debbie Setzer of Norway, Emily Bray of Olathe, Kan., Christopher Setzer of Seattle, Wash., Lindsay Setzer of Beatrice, John Ticnor of Lees Summit, Mo., Amanda Wienck of Marysville, Kan., Matt Setzer of Lincoln, Cory Wienck of Marysville, Kan., Jayme Stiefvater of Beatrice, Kelly Setzer of Nashville, Tenn., Jacie Ticnor of Beatrice and Meaghan Setzer of Lincoln; 19 great-grandchildren, Jesse, Max, Zane, Elsa, Jacob, Noah, Colby, Triston, Shalee, Nicholas, Katelyn, Noah, Lauren, Kylie, Macy, Myah, Hunter, Gracie and Karly; one brother-in-law, Kenneth Moneypenney and wife Doris of Wilber; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ace and Katie Setzer, his wife Lavina, who died in September 1996; one brother, Dorsey Setzer; four sisters, Leora Hammond, Marie Pharoah, Jo Zentner and Laverne Lunsford; parents-in-law, Chancey and Bessie Moneypenny.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 at Fox Funeral Home with the Pastor Jack Magness officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Home Cemetery of Beatrice. A memorial has been established to the family's choice. The body will lie in state at the Fox Funeral Home until time of services on Saturday. A guestbook for signatures and messages of condolence is available online at www.foxfuneralhome.net. Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice in charge of arrangements.