Lloyd Mead

Lloyd R. Mead, 92 of Kearney passed away Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, NE. Services are pending with O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Lloyd Ronald Mead was born on March 21,1934, to Ronald Elmer Mead and Gladys Faye (Roberts) on a farm southeast of Wood River, Nebraska. Lloyd grew up in the Wood River area as the oldest of seven children. He spent his early years helping on the farm and working in his father’s blacksmith shop in Wood River. His closest childhood companion was his sister Ruthie. Lloyd enjoyed playing football, basketball, and track, and was known by many as “Eat ’em up Eats.” He graduated from Wood River Rural High School in 1952. He also competed in skating competitions and was skilled in many daring tricks. Lloyd was drafted in 1954 and served two years in the United States Army. On April 23, 1957, he married Marlene Forst. This union brought three children: Kalvin, Kindra, and Kenny. Lloyd was a hard worker and a man of many skills. Over the years he farmed, drove a fuel truck, worked with the Farmers Co‑op, and spent time at Chief Industries in Grand Island before settling into a long career with Eaton Corporation in Kearney, Nebraska. He was the first Eaton employee to retire with 25 years of service and earned the reputation of being, “a hell of a welder.” Lloyd lived and raised his family in Shelton, Nebraska, before moving to Kearney in 1996. He raised Black Angus cattle on a farm north of Shelton for 21 years. After retiring, he enjoyed attending country music festivals and traveling. Lloyd is preceded in death by his parents, Ronald and Gladys Mead; brothers Merle and George Mead; brother‑in‑law Ron Schuller; son‑in‑law Lonnie Shiers; daughter‑in‑law Marilyn Mead; and special friend Deanne Svoboda. He is survived by his former wife, Marlene Mead; partner Doris Vanvleet, his three children—Kalvin (Shelton, NE), Kindra Shiers (Gibbon, NE), and Kenny (Diane) Mead (Holdrege, NE); grandchildren Kalyn (Anthony) Krotz of Wheatland, WY; Autumn (Michael) Pena of Shelton, NE; Derek (Carrie) Mead of Grand Island, NE; Tyler (Hillary) Shiers of Wood River, NE; Westley (Audrey) Shiers of Kearney, NE; and Steven Mead of Holdrege, NE; great‑grandchildren Zailey and Katriel Krotz; Micaiah and Annaiah Pena; Kedrek Mead of Grand Island, NE; McKinleigh Norton; Emmett and Harlo Shiers. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2026 at the O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Interment will be held at the Wood River Cemetery with military honors provided by the Gibbon/Shelton American Legion Post #310 in conjunction with the Nebraska National Guard Funeral Honors Team. A reception at the Wood River Community Center will follow the burial. Please make memorial donations to National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and American Kidney Fund (AKF). Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O'Brien Straatmann Redinger and Cremation Services.

Lloyd Mead

March 21, 1934 - April 21, 2026