Darwin D. Gans

Darwin Dwayne Gans, age 95, passed away January 6, 2024, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook.

VISITATION SUNDAY IS CANCELED. Please read below for additional service times.

A Funeral Service will be held Monday, January 15, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Columbus. Visitation will on Monday from 9:00-10 a.m. at Church. A lunch will be served at the Church Hall immediately following the service. Burial at Edholm Valley Cemetery near Octavia, at 1:30 p.m. on Monday. Svoboda Funeral Home of Schuyler is handling arrangements for Darwin's family.

Memorials may be directed to family wishes.

Darwin was born January 9, 1928, in Bellwood, Nebraska to Edwin and Flossie (Ellis) Gans. He was the youngest of their 3 children. He had an older sister, Iola, and older brother, Denton. He attended Bellwood Grade School, worked on the farm in his younger years for his brother-in-law, and was employed by the Burlington Railroad out of Bellwood for 10 years. He played on the Bellwood “town Baseball Team”, as 3rd baseman, and was offered the opportunity by the Manager, to “try out’ for the “National Farm baseball team” out of Omaha. He also played on the Bellwood town basketball team.

On August 26, 1950, he was married to ArNez Darlene Vrana, at the Octavia Baptist Church by Rev. Dan Burress. He was a former member of the Methodist Church in Bellwood and became a member of the Octavia Baptist Church at this time. Later, when the Octavia Church closed, he became a member of the First Baptist Church in Columbus.

He was inducted into the Military Service on Jan. 8, 1952, a day before his 24th birthday, and was stationed at Camp Leonard Wood in Missouri and Camp Cook in California, until departing for Korea December 1, 1952. There he served as a Corporal in the Army at the Headquarters of the Engineer’s Battalion near Seoul, Korea, returning to their original home in the country in September 1953. Their only son, Gregory Shawn, was born April 4, 1956. In 1958, he assumed the position of Maintainer Operator for Bonecreek Township, working in that capacity for 26 years. Darwin was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in David City.

That year, they purchased a newly remodeled modern home in Octavia, and resided there for 12 years, where they built a new “ranch style” home on their adjacent lot in Octavia. Their “new home” was among his “pride and joys” and he spent a great amount of time “keeping it beautiful”.

Darwin and his wife, ArNez, celebrated their 25th and 35th wedding anniversaries with large reception at the Octavia Community Hall, in 1975 and 1985. In 1990, they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at the Oak Ballroom in Schuyler, with a large reception evening dinner and dance, and again in 2000, their Golden Wedding Anniversary, also held at the Oak Ballroom in Schuyler with a large reception dinner and dance.

In 1984, he was diagnosed with “Guillain-Barre”, a paralytic syndrome, which necessitated his early retirement. He did keep very busy with lots of gardening and yard work. He fully recovered after a year and was very active for the next 26 years. He enjoyed attending many “Big Band” and “Country Western”, music, dancing, cassinos, and later bingo. He attended many “Big Band Dance Festivals” in Decatur and Effingham, Illinois and enjoyed dancing at many other ballrooms. They attended many Korean "Reunions" in Columbus, Grand Island, Sioux City, Norfolk, and Kearney. He was very fond of horses, and along with the rest of his family, did a lot of horseback riding, and spent time with 2 Shetland ponies, pulling a 2-wheel cart. He spent a lot of time with his 2 favorite “kitty-cats”, -Frisky and Fluffy, and later, “Oreo” and “Cookie”.

In 2008, “Guillain-Barre” reoccurred and they sold their home in Octavia and moved to McCook to be closer to their families. They reside at Hillcrest Nursing Facility.

Darwin was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Flossie Gans, brother: Denton Gans, sister: Iola Napier, nieces: Sharon Napier and Janice VanLone, nephews: Bill Napier, Darald Napier, Dennis Gans and Max Gans.

He is survived by his wife, ArNez, of 73 years, son, Greg (Debbie), grandson, Theodore “Ted” (Richelle), great grandsons: Gabriel Joseph and Rhett Theodore, great granddaughter: Lilley Anne of McCook, nieces: Peg Wilson and Shirley Liden.