Geary L. Combs, 74

(photo)

Geary L. Combs was born October 30, 1947 in Chadron, Nebraska to Tommy & Lucille (Dawkins) Combs and died February 14, 2022.

As a child he moved to Valentine, Nebraska. He graduated from high school in 1966 and attended the University of Nebraska. He graduated from UNL in 1970 with a degree in Construction Science.

In 1969 he married Linda (Randall) and they had two children, Jason & Kelly.

He began his career with NEBCO while still a student at UNL and stayed with the NEBCO family for 43 years until his retirement in 2014. He retired as Vice President, General Manager of Watkins Concrete Block Company in Omaha, NE.

He had a life-long passion for aviation, earning his private pilot's license when he was 16 years old. He became an instrument rated pilot and spent many years flying his own plane, visiting friends and family and flying simply for the joy it brought him.

This commitment to general aviation continued beyond the airplane and extended into public service with many years as a member of the Blair Airport Authority, serving as Chairman. The growth of the Blair Airport was one of his passions and he worked tirelessly to ensure that growth while also setting future plans in place.

Geary was very active in the Omaha business community during his professional career. One association that has continued even after his retirement is his involvement with the Business Breakfast Club of Omaha. He developed many close relationships with the BBC members and was still serving as the Club treasurer at the time of his death.

An avid outdoorsman, Geary spent as many hours as possible hunting, fishing and enjoying the beauty of nature.

The greatest passion and pride in his life has been his children and grandchildren. He leaves the strong legacy of a loving family.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, son Jason (Resa), daughter Kelly and grandchildren Thane (Rachel), Colin, Michael & Rebekah.

Visitation will be Thursday, February 17th at St Francis Borgia Catholic Church from 5-7 pm with the Vigil Service at 7 pm. The funeral will be Friday, February 18th at 10 am at St Francis Borgia Catholic Church with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Blair. A luncheon will follow in the Church social hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St Francis Borgia Catholic Church or to the Blair Volunteer Fire Department.

#2-Published in the Enterprise February 18, 2022

Airport Board remembers Geary Combs

The Blair Airport Authority’s Meeting Tuesday began on a somber note as the board remembered chairman Geary Combs. 74, who passed away Feb. 14.

Combs was a long-time member of the Blair Airport Authority, where he served as an advocate for the Blair Municipal Airport.

“Geary had a real passion for aviation and as a pilot, he understood the need for development and growth of the Blair Municipal Airport to make it self-sustaining for the community.” Blair City Administrator Rod Storm said, “He had that real passion to help aviation grow, to help the community grow and that was one of the main things the airport needed was some real leadership to help get it to that next level.”

Storm said Combs’ dedication to aviation wasn’t limited to Blair, as he worked tirelessly to promote smaller airports at the state level as well.

“Geary was an avid supporter of aviation at the state house and he was a regular testifier the last few years to advocate for aviation needs, particularly to increase funding to allow the state to be able to have funds to issue grants to help growing airports grow, “ Storm said.

Storm said Combs’ contributions to Blair cannot be overstated and his presence will be missed.

“I think the airport has gotten to a new height it hadn’t been able to achieve before,” he said. “Geary was always right there to step up and take the challenge.”

#3 Funeral leaflet

(photo)

In Loving Memory of Geary Lee Combs

Born October 30, 1947 Chadron, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest February 14, 2022 Omaha, Nebraska

Visitation 5-7 pm Thursday, February 17, 2022. Vigil to begin at 7 pm. St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Blair, NE

Mass of Christian Burial 10 am Friday, February 18, 2022 St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Blair, NE. Celebrant: Rev. Damien Wee. Concelebrants: Most Rev. William Dendinger, Rev. James Tiegs. Pianist: Lori Aman. Cantor: Sarah Bryne. Musical Selections: “Be Not Afraid”, “Hail Mary Gentle Woman”, “Prayer of St. Francis”, “On Eagle’s Wings”, “I Love (Little Baby Ducks)”

Pallbearers: Business Breakfast Club of Omaha Representatives Don Hansen, Rory Sherman, Scott McMullen, Joe Sova, Eric Balch, Jim Reese

Honorary Pallbearers: Mike Gallagher, Ralph Williams

Final Resting Place: Holy Cross Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska

#4-Published in Pilot-Tribune 02-22-2022

(Photo)

Greg Forbes(author)

Dr. David Johnson first met Geary Combs when Combs brought an animal to his care at Blair Small Animal Clinic.

The two eventually found out they shared a common hobby, which turned into a life-long friendship.

“Flying was a passion for both of us,” Johnson said. “Geary flew a 1960 Beechcraft Debonair and I flew a 1960 Beechcraft Bonanza. That really tied us together right away.”

Combs, who served as Blair Airport Authority Chairman, passed away Feb. 14 at the age of 74. Johnson, Airport Authority vice chairman, said Combs kept his dedication and passion for aviation and the Blair Municipal Airport until the day he died.

“He was fantastic to work with,” Johnson said. “It made you want to jump in and see what you could do. He was a tremendous leader and he's going to be very, very missed.”

Under Combs' guidance, Johnson said the current airport was able to grow from just four hangars, known for easily recognizable military murals, to a popular landing spot for pilots.

“We were noted for being this little airport in the country with the flying Warbird murals,” Johnson said. “Now we have that huge runway, we have a Fixed Base Operator (FBO), fuel arms, automated weather, instrument approaches and a partnership with the Omaha Police Department.

“There are so many things and (Combs) was at the helm of it. There was so much that wouldn't have happened without him.”

One of the projects Combs helped guide the airport through was its eventual partnership with SkyWerx as the FBO. SkyWerx's Tim Hauder said he could tell Combs' leadership help make the agreement successful.

“I've bragged up our airport board to many of the people in my industry that have some form of a business or viewing of an airport elsewhere,” he said. “When you look at the growth out there in the airport industry, there's not another airport in the central region of the FAA growing like Blair and that's why we're getting the attention we are.”

Outside of the Blair airport, Combs tirelessly advocated for Nebraska aviation as a whole. Blair City Administrator Rod Storm said Combs spent many hours speaking in front of the Nebraska Legislature and lobbied for smaller airports.

“Geary was a regular testifier the last few years to advocate for aviation needs, particularly to increase funding to allow the state to be able to have funds to issue grants to help growing airports grow,” Storm said.

Blair Airport Authority member and fellow pilot Dan Hunt added that Combs' presence allowed him to relay messages in a way that explained the urgency but did so in a steady voice.

“He was an advocate for aviation wherever he went, not just aviation in Blair but for the aviation community in general,” he said. “He had a calm, pragmatic way he approached challenges that we had.”

Hunt said his calm demeanor was also reflected in his flying style, which led to – thankfully – drama-free flights together.

“When a flight is boring, you can just sit back in the cockpit and have a fun conversation with the person you're with,” Hunt said.

Combs' passing leaves a void in Nebraska aviation that local leaders know won't be filled to the same level at which he operated. Hunt said he tries to avoid the cliché of “big shoes to fill” when possible, but can't deny it's true in Combs' case.

“There isn't one of us on the board now who can fill his shoes and I don't know else who could,” Hunt said. “He volunteered countless hours at the airport, went out several days a week to check on it and he knew everything there is to know about that airport.”

And while Combs' absence as a leader will be missed, those who worked closest with him knows his passing goes beyond his work in aviation.

“He was a client of mine, a pilot and a fellow board member on the Blair Airport Authority with me,” Johnson said. “All of those are great but most importantly, he was a friend, and a really good one.”

#5-Posted Friday, February 3, 2023 By Greg Forbes - editor@enterprisepub.com

Geary Combs dedicated years of his life to aviation both locally and for Nebraska, as a whole.

Flying since he was 18 years of age, Combs expressed his love of aviation through service, serving on the Blair Airport Authority for nearly 20 years and promoting aviation to state bodies whenever possible.

Combs' impact on aviation recently earned a spot in the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame and was also recognized with a memorial plaque by the Nebraska Association of Airport Officials. He was inducted in late January at a ceremony in Kearny. Combs, who passed away on Feb. 14, 2022, was represented by his wife, Linda, son Jason, daughter-in-law Resa Roberie and fellow aviation enthusiast and Blair Airport Authority member Dan Hunt. Hunt nominated Combs for the honor.

Hunt said nominating Combs was a no-brainer for someone who led by example and acted on his words in order to advance the Blair airport and aviation in the state.

“He was a big part of the airport,” Hunt said. “Geary didn't just sit in the seat of chairman of the Airport Authority, he didn't just sit in the chair and run meetings, he was active and engaged.

“If he went to the airport five or six days a week, it wouldn't surprise me. He developed relationships with all the different tenants, the Fixed Base Operator, the Omaha Police Department and when there was construction, he would always keep an eye on things.”

In Combs' nomination form, Hunt pointed out that Combs was on the Blair Airport Authority for 24 major projects at the airport, eight of which were privately funded.

“All this occurred under Geary’s leadership involving countless hours which he spent reviewing airport business, checking project construction, guiding development, and being a liaison between maintenance personnel, staff, and airport users,” Hunt said, in the nomination letter.

The letter also includes work Combs did statewide. He regularly attended Nebraska Association of Airport Officials meetings and the Nebraska Aeronautics Commission, he was a constant promoter of aviation at the 4 States Aviation Conference and testified in the Nebraska Legislature in support of aviation across the state.

Linda said attending the event and speaking with many who worked with Geary to promote the industry was rewarding, as was hearing of what he helped accomplish for the Blair airport and airports statewide.

“I met a lot of people whose names I heard but had never met the people,” she said. “So many people came up and introduced themselves and shared recollections about Geary.”

Linda said she knew Geary would be proud of the honor, although admittedly “embarrassed” as someone who never sought out acknowledgement for his work.

“He had a real passion for general aviation and worked tirelessly for small airports in Nebraska to ensure they had the funding to do improvements and things like that to keep general aviation active and vibrant in the state,” she said. “He would've been so humbled and honored and, as I told them, he would've been very embarrassed because getting accolades and attention was not at all what he looked for.”

~~~Obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

FindaGrave # 236767384