Leland C. Gangwish

Leland Carl Gangwish, 95, of Kearney, formerly of Shelton, Nebraska died on Monday, November 14, 2016 at Mother Hull Home in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Friday at the First Baptist Church of Kearney, with Rev. Stan Murdoch officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Gibbon Riverside Cemetery at 2:15 pm Friday. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursday at the O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home of Kearney. Memorials are suggested to the family for designation at a later date. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Leland was born on July 28, 1921 in Hastings, Nebraska, the oldest of six children to Carl and Carrie (Bogseth) Gangwish. He grew up near Juniata and graduated from Juniata High school, attended Hastings College for two years and later graduated from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas with degrees in chemistry and math. After graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy serving as an officer on several ships in the pacific fleet during World War II. He was united in marriage to Wanda L. Dysart on June 4, 1946 at the First Baptist Church of Augusta, Kansas. The couple returned to San Diego where Leland worked on decommissioning the USS Bull. With his naval commitment completed, the couple returned to Shelton, Nebraska to begin a farm life in agriculture production which he continued until his retirement and beyond. Leland was a visionary and a leader. He helped develop the turkey production industry in central Nebraska, resulting in the Nebraska Turkey Ranch and the Nebraska Turkey Growers Inc. plant at Gibbon. He was one of the founding grower-owners of NC+ Hybrids, a Nebraska seed company that grew to market through over 1500 dealers nationally and internationally. He was one of the founders of Gangwish Farm & Grain Inc. at Shelton and the founder of Gangwish Seed Farms. He served in various Nebraska business organizations, in addition to serving on the board of directors for the Norbest Turkey Growers Association and the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association. Leland had a strong faith in God using it to quietly guide his life, family and church community. He was an active member of the Gibbon Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, Kearney. He served numerous roles in the church. He especially enjoyed serving as chairman of the new building committee in Gibbon. He felt education was very important and assured all his children graduated from college. He proudly served on the board of Trustees for Ottawa University, Ottawa, Kansas. Leland valued his family. He had a large extended family and enjoyed his relationships with them whenever he had the opportunity or there was a social gathering. His children and grandchildren were very close to him. In later years, his great grandchildren brought a special smile to his face. He is survived by his wife of seventy years, Wanda of Kearney, seven children and their spouses; Cheryl and Larry Glazier of Grand Island, Janet and Greg Burger of Luverne, Minnesota, Randy and Sherry Gangwish of Shelton, Gene and Carol Gangwish of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Greg and Carol Gangwish of Kearney, Duane and Tricia Gangwish of Lincoln, and Paul and Deb Gangwish of Shelton, twenty grandchildren and forty great grandchildren, two sisters, Loree Elliot of Kearney, Christine Underwood Barr of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and brother, Carl and Louise Gangwish of Kearney, and sister-in-law Treva Gangwish of Wood River. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Wendell and Dwight, brothers-in-law, George Underwood, Bill Barr and Willis Elliott, and Sister-in-law, Lois Gangwish.

Leland C. Gangwish

July 28, 1921 - November 14, 2016