R. Eugene Koertner 11-2-1928 to 1-21-2012

Former Area resident R. Eugene Koertner, 83, of Fremont died Saturday, Jan 21, 2012, at Fremont Area Medical Center as a result of a very short illness.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at United Methodist Church in Blue Hill with the Rev. Steve Marsh officiating.
Burial will be at Blue Hill Cemetery in Blue Hill.  Visitation is 2-5 p.m. Tuesday at Merten-Butler Mortuary in Blue Hill, and one hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.
in Lieu of Flowers, memorials may be given to the Webster County Food pantry.
                                             
Eugene was born in Hastings on November 2, 1928 to Oscar W. and Helen M. Kaufman Koertner of Bladen.  He graduated from Bladen in 1946.  he met his wife, Alice in 1947 at the Webster County Extension office and they were married on May 14, 1950, in Red Cloud.
They began their life together farming in the Webster and Adams County areas.
Gene was born a farmer, enjoying all aspects of the seasons- the miracle of growing crops and raising livestock and took pride in being a steward of the land.  He served the community on various boards including the Blue Hill School Board, the Co-op Board and a 4-H leader, and on the Blue Hill United Methodist Church Board, including serving as chairman of the building committee in 1976 when the present church building was constructed.
Gene also had a love of music, singing tenor as a young man in the Plainview Methodist Church.  he and Alice enjoyed community concerts and made sure all their children had music lessons.  In 1995, looking forward to an active retirement and travel with Alice, he suffered a debilitating stroke, which changed life for them.  They moved to Hastings, NE in 1997 where they lived for twelve years until moving to Fremont to be closer to their son and family.  Gene and Alice were blessed with three children.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years.  Alice (Reigle) Koertner who resides at 749 E. 29th St. #239, Shalimar Gardens, Fremont, Nebraska.  One daughter Marilyn Burrows and her husband Steve of Las Vegas, Nevada; two sons, Rodney Koertner and his wife Susan of Katy, Texas, Roger Koertner and his wife Debbie of Fremont, Nebraska.  He also enjoyed his family including five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Adam and Briana Koertner, Adriana, Kayla and Clay of Newport News, VA,  Grant and Tiffany Koertner, Eric and Cameron of Lubbock, Texas, Natasha Koertner of Lincoln, Ne, Seth Koertner of Laramie, Wyoming, Nathan Koertner of Fremont, Nebraska, one sister , Marjorie Rippen of North Platte, Nebraska.  He was preceded in death by  his parents and his first grandson, Eric Koertner.