Daryl Gene Conger

Daryl G. Conger, age 89 of Galena, IL and longtime Sidney, NE resident, passed away Friday, December 13, 2024, at his home in Galena.
Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, January 4, 2025, in the Faith Methodist Church in Sidney with Pastor Corey Jenkins officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney. Cremation has taken place. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Friday, January 3rd from 1-6:00 P.M. to sign Daryl's register book and drop off condolences for the family. Family will be present from 4 – 6 P.M. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Daryl's name to Hospice of Dubuque, IA and Faith Methodist Church in Sidney. Services will be livestreamed and recorded for later viewing on our website at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.
Daryl Gene Conger, the son of Wilmer Ira and Grace Caroline (Workman) Conger, was born on May 3, 1935, at Macon, MO. He lived his earlier youth in Kansas City, KS before the family moved to Ottawa, KS. He graduated from Ottawa High School in 1953. Daryl was very active with the Student Council and was President his junior year. He lettered in Football throughout High School. Following graduation, Daryl attended the University of Kansas where he concentrated on his pre-medicine studies and was then accepted into Physical Therapy School and graduated from Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, KS, as a registered Physical Therapist in 1957. While attending KU, Staff Sargent Daryl Conger was active in the Kansas National Guard as a member of the 127th Field Artillery Unit from 1953-1957.
Daryl began his PT career in Sidney, NE right out of college in 1957 and never left. He was Sidney Memorial Hospital's first Head of Physical Therapy and eagerly accepted the task of building the state-of-the-art physical therapy department that it is today. Through his years in Sidney, Daryl's career grew and expanded to include being a "circuit" PT for three hospitals in the area including Garden County Hospital in Oshkosh, Julesburg, CO Hospital and Chappell, NE Hospital. Daryl's career didn't just benefit our local residents, as his reach expanded statewide with his position as on-site Practical Ed Instructor for University of Nebraska PT students. He was also very active in the Nebraska Physical Therapy Association including being President. In 2009, during the Nebraska Physical Therapy Association Conference in Kearney, Daryl was presented the NPTA Clinical Excellence Award for his outstanding work with PT students. He retired in 2009. He was active in the Jaycees, serving as Past President. He was also an Elks Member, receiving the distinction of Elk of the Year in 1968.
If Daryl's career had not kept him busy enough, he was a proud and busy husband to Mary Lou, the love of his life for 48 years, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He and Mary Lou loved dancing, socializing, kids' school concerts and sports activities, hunting and fishing with the boys and skiing. Their greatest joys being when they were with the family, affectionately called the "Conger-gation", spending holidays, birthdays and their epic trips to the mountains to share their love for skiing with ALL the kids. Daryl was able to enjoy skiing long into his 70s.
Survivors include daughter: Denise Shiffermiller of Omaha, NE; sons: Randall Conger of Lincoln, NE and Ronald Conger of Kimball, NE; stepdaughter: Kimberly Howard of Galena, IL; stepsons: Todd Baliman of Kimball, NE and Kent Baliman of Galena, IL; (10) grandchildren and (13) great-grandchildren.
Daryl was preceded in death by his parents Wilmer and Grace and wife of forty-eight years: Mary Lou.