Raymond G. DeBower

Raymond G. DeBower, 85, of Valley, formerly of Schuyler, passed away on March 7, 2024 at the Life Care Center in Elkhorn.

A video of Ray's funeral service can be found on our Facebook page by clicking here: https://fb.watch/qQssIKsJ54/

Memorials can be directed towards Valley Fire and Rescue, Muscular Dystrophy Association, or the Orphan Grain Train.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Schuyler. Visitation will be on Thursday, March 14, from 5 until 7 p.m. at Svoboda Funeral Home in Schuyler. Interment with military honors will be in the Schuyler Cemetery with lunch following in the church social hall. Svoboda Funeral Home of Schuyler is assisting Ray’s family with arrangements.

Raymond G. DeBower was born on April 14, 1938 in Schuyler, Nebraska to Garrett and Mabel (Stevenson) DeBower. Ray graduated from Schuyler High School in 1955, after his graduation from Schuyler he went on to attend UNL where he received a degree in agriculture. While working on his studies in Lincoln, he met the love of his life Kathy Spilker and the couple later married on June 20, 1959. In 1959, Ray entered into the United States Army Air Defense in which he served until his honorable discharge in 1962.

After his discharge from the Army in 1962, Ray and Kathy moved to his family farm northwest of Schuyler where the couple ran a successful farm for many years. Ray and Kathy were long-time members of Immanuel Lutheran Church outside of Schuyler. He was a very active member in the church and served as the president of the church’s leadership team. Helping out the community didn’t stop with just his church, Ray served for several years on the school board, and upon his retirement enjoyed using his truck driving skills from farming to volunteer and drive trucks for the Orphan Grain Train when they needed help particularly after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans.

When Ray wasn’t helping out in the community, he loved spending time with his family and close friends. He enjoyed some of the trips they took together including Russia, South America, and St. Kitts. Ray will always be remembered by his family as a kind and generous man, a successful businessman, and an amazing husband, father, and grandfather.

Ray is survived by his daughters, Diane (Kim) Eicher of Omaha, and Susan (Larry) Gregurich of Valley; grandsons Matthew (Ashley Erceg) Eicher and Bryce (Ricci) Gregurich and their sons Gage and Gavin; sister Dorothy Hildebrandt.

He is preceded in death by his parents and wife Kathy in 2005.