Gale Schindler
1938 — 2015
Gale J. Schindler, 77 of Elgin, NE passed away Sunday, September 20, 2015 at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, NE.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 25, 2015 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Elgin, with Rev. Ross Burkhalter officiating. Interment will follow at the parish cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the church, with a 7:30 p.m. wake service. Huffman-Levander Funeral Home of Elgin, is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.huffmanlevander.com.
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Gale James Schindler, son of Adolph and Elizabeth (Kerkman) Schindler, was born April 1, 1938 on a farm southwest of Elgin, NE. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Boniface Church in Elgin.
He moved with his family to a farm southeast of Elgin in 1945, and at the age of 12, he had to take on helping to run the farm, milking cows and raising hogs and cattle, following the death of his father.
He attended St. Boniface School in Elgin, graduating in 1955. In the spring of 1960, he moved to Omaha to work as a caterpillar operator, digging basements.
On June 7, 1960, Gale married Darlene A. “Dolly” Klein at St. John the Baptist Church in Petersburg, NE.
They lived in Omaha until returning to the Elgin area in October 1960. Gale farmed for his uncle Rudy Schindler for six months before they moved to the John Buelt farm southeast of Elgin where they raised their five children: Jim, Laurie, Gary, Ken and Wendy.
Gale was in a car accident in 1965 that left his legs partially handicapped.
They continued living on the farm until moving to Elgin in 1974. Gale continued farming with the help of hired men and his sons, until fully retiring in 2009 due to his health.
Gale was a lifelong member of St. Boniface Church and a founding member of the Sandhills Saddle and Buggy Club.
He enjoyed horses, playing shuffleboard, fixing bikes for his grandchildren and restoring John Deere tractors.
Most of all, he loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dolly; five children: Jim (Marla) Schindler, Laurie (Chris) Waterbury, Gary (Teresa) Schindler, Ken (Julie) Schindler, and Wendy (Stan) Voborny, all of Elgin, NE; ten grandchildren, four step-grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; nine step-great-grandchildren; one sister: Carol Mescher of Elgin; two brothers: Dan (Sharon) Schindler of Elgin; Dave (Linda) Schindler of Odell, NE; one sister-in-law: Joan Schindler; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Gale was preceded in death by his parents, step-father George Freese, brother John Schindler, and brother-in-law Bob Mescher.
