Greg J. Urbanek

Gregory Urbanek, 56 Shelton resident Gregory Urbanek, 56 of Shelton, he entered heavenly home Thursday, January 12, 2017 after he passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital following a short battle with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at Kearney New Life Church. The Chaplain Bobby Payne will officiate. The family will receive friends 5:00 to 7:30 pm Monday at the Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangments. Gregory Joseph Urbanek was born in David City Nebraska on December 16, 1960 to Cyril and Agnes (Purtek) Urbanek. He graduated from David City Aquinas High School in 1979. He attended Chardon State College where in participated on the football and wrestling teams. Greg was a police officer for the City of Kearney for 31 years achieving the rank of Sergeant. He graduated from the Northwestern University Command Staff School. During his career he was an investigator and volunteered his services to the Foster Care Review Board for over 20 years. In 2003 Greg, along with other officers who worked the Anne Sluti kidnapping case were awarded the Advancing Justice and Cooperation in Law Enforcement Award presented by the United States Department of Justice. Greg devoted his career to being a community guardian. Sgt. Urbanek exemplified the mantra of “do the right thing for the right reasons in the right way”. He was awarded 2 meritorious Duty Awards during his career. On November 30, 1991, Greg was united in marriage with Brenda Gonnerman. To this marriage, twin daughters, Emma Caroline and Maggie Elizabeth were born. Greg’s greatest joy was being with his family, and watching his daughters participate in their activities Greg was a deeply spiritual man who relied on his faith through all obstacles and all joyous occasions. He was known far and wide as an avid fisherman whose greatest joy in fishing was not catching the biggest fish, but teaching others how to enjoy fishing. He shared his knowledge and experience of hunting and fishing with so many people. Greg was also an outstanding cook. His fish fries, Italian walleye, cream can dinners and Christmas soup were epic. Greg always enjoyed feeding other people, making sure they had a cold beer and that they were enjoying themselves. Greg is survived by his wife Brenda, daughters Emma of Lincoln, Maggie of Kearney, sisters Jayne Urban of Albuquerque, NM, Marcia Bohuslavsky of Brainard, Deb Arends of Lincoln, Judy (Lon) Dyer of Lincoln, brother Jerome (Teri) Urbanek of Ulysses, mother-in-law Norma Gonnerman of Gresham, brother-in-law Kevin and his wife Beth Gonnerman of Omaha, numerous nieces and nephews, and special “brother” Captain Mike Kirkwood. Greg was preceeded in death by his parents, Agnes and Cyril Urbanek, his sister Jeanette Koch, brother-in-law Dick Arends, father-in-law Robert Gonnerman. In-lieu of flowers family requests memorials made to Orphan Grain Train or for family designation.

Greg J. Urbanek

December 16, 1960 - January 12, 2017