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Dian Fay Gammel Nelson was born December 22, 1941 to Paul McGrew and Helen Wilson Gammel. She passed away unexpectedly on the morning of Monday, June 22, 2015, at the age of 73 years.

Dian attended District 22 country school, also known as Crannell School or Little Red Schoolhouse, located southwest of Tekamah, Nebraska. She graduated from Tekamah High School in 1959. She attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.

On June 15, 1961 she married Gilbert R. Johnson of Fremont, Nebraska. To this union were born three children, Gilbert, deSilva and Cody. She later married Randy Nelson in Craig, Nebraska, where they resided before moving to Tekamah.

Dian grew up on a farm southwest of Tekamah, where she helped with all farm chores. She excelled at riding and training horses. Dian traveled the Midwest Barrel Racing circuit for several years in the late 1950s, and was Casey Tibbs Rodeo Queen. Dian always chose a two-lane blacktop road over an interstate highway. She owned and operated an 18 wheeler, but could not parallel park a car. For a time, she drove a school bus for Oakland-Craig Schools and was an EMT on Craig’s Rescue Squad. She was a member of Chapter 131 Order of the Eastern Star – Tekamah.

Dian was confident in her manner, glamorous in her appearance, and relentless in her nature. She was a devoted friend and mother, and a dedicated big sister; her sense of humor and insatiable quest for the next road trip will be missed.

Dian was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Thomas Gammel; son, Cody Johnson; son-in-law, William Magill; aunts, Alice Wilson Gammel, Darlene Gammel Warren; uncles Charles Gammel, Keith Gammel.

Survivors include children: Gilbert (Rae) Johnson of Stapleton, NE, Dee Magill of Herman, NE; sister, Jean (Don) Neary of Tekamah; cousin, Celia Gammel of Tacoma, WA; friend and partner, Harvey “Chuck” Lydick of Lyons, NE; nine grandchildren: Gilbert R. Johnson II and Ross Johnson of Stapleton, Mason, Colton and Taylor Magill of Herman, Martin (Katherine) Johnson of Pittsburg, PA, Jessica Johnson of Herman, Joshua Johnson of Mountain View, WY, Audrey Rose Johnson of Kalispell, MT; four great-grandchildren: Braxton Magill, Eleanor and Addison Johnson and Brooks Deets Owens, who came into this world the same day Grandma Di departed. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

Memorial service was held June 27, 2015.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~