Gary L. Denison 69 of Blair, Nebraska passed away Wednesday August 16, 2023 at his home. He was born September 10, 1953 in Fremont to Duane and Arlene (Pawling) Denison.

Gary grew up at Arlington, NE, was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, a 1971 graduate of Arlington High School, and a 1972 graduate of Lincoln School of Commerce.

Gary served in the United States Army (1974-1977) and Army Reserves (1988-2006), retiring in 2006. He served in the Persian Gulf War (1990-1991) and Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Gary was a life member of Arlington VFW Post 8332, American Legion Post 71 and was American Legion Commander. He was Chairman of the Arlington Veterans Club for 8 years and a board member from2011 to 2021. He was also a life member of the NRA, Fremont Veterans Coalition and the DAV.

He retired from the Nebraska Department of Corrections in 2018 after 20 years.

Gary enjoyed being with family and friends, country living, hunting, target shooting, golf, Husker Football, supporting veterans and the Arlington Veteran Club and being with his dogs Molly and Reba. Gary’s motto: “God, Country, Family, Friends and Freedom”.

Gary is survived by his wife Sheryl (Ruwe) Denison of Blair; daughter, Lindsey Walton of Randolph, NE; grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Ethan Walton; brothers, Doug (Marlene) Denison, and Rod Denison all of Lincoln, NE.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Roger; and sister, Juanita Benne.

Celebration of Life Service will be 11 AM Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Arlington. Please wear your Husker gear in honor of Gary’s love of the Huskers. Military Honors and lunch will follow the service.

In Lieu of Flowers memorials to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or Arlington Veterans Club.

Online condolences may be left at www.mosermemorialchapels.com.

Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home, 232 W. Eagle St. Arlington, NE 68002 402-478-4151.

#2-funeral home website

Gary Denison,69

September 10, 1953 ~ August 16, 2023

Gary L. Denison 69 of rural Blair, Nebraska passed away Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at his home.

He was a veteran.

Service Location

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 8951 Co Rd 9, Arlington, Nebraska 68002

Interment Location

Omaha National Cemetery, 14250 Schram Road, Omaha, NE 68138

Funeral arrangements are pending at Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home in Arlington. 402-478-4151.

#3-Posted Friday, September 1, 2023 Enterprise

By Cheyenne Alexis - features@enterprisepub.com

A longtime Arlington resident, Gary Denison was known for his love of God, country, family, friends and freedom.

Gary died on Aug. 16, following a battle with a terminal illness at age 69.

At his celebration of life service, Gary's friends and family wore Husker gear and honored his theme of service and family.

Gary was born on Sept. 10, 1953 in the Arlington area. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and a 1971 graduate of Arlington High School.

Following high school, Gary graduated from the Lincoln School of Commerce in 1972 and served in the United States Army from 1974 to 1977, and in the Army Reserves from 1988 to 2006. He served in the Persian Gulf War from 1990 to 1991 and Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

Gary continued supporting the military and veterans by joining the Arlington VFW Post 8332 and American Legion Post 71, where was commander for several years. He was also the chairman of the Arlington Veterans Club for eight years, and remained on the board for 10.

In his professional life, Gary worked for the Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility, retiring in 2018 after 20 years.

Sheryl Denison met Gary in high school, though they didn't start dating until 1997 when they reconnected. They were married January 2003 right before his deployment.

Sheryl said the military was "very important" to Gary.

"He was very proud of his service," she said. "He also worked a lot with the Veterans Coalition in Fremont, and Gary was really big on (constructing) the memorial wall (at Arlington Cemetery). The memorial wall is probably the biggest thing he did. He was very big on wanting to raise money for any type of veterans' needs or events or will help provide service, medical equipment, things like that, to veterans in the area.

"He would organize the Memorial Day service at the Arlington Cemetery, and he'd organize putting the flags out that are around the cemetery and on the graves. He would work very long and hard on those speeches."

Steve Bremer, a longtime friend with Gary who worked closely with him at the Legion, said Gary was instrumental in setting up the military memorial.

"He was very active in that," he said. "He was a go-getter for getting the funding for that wall. He was the push, the drive behind it, there's no doubt about it. He pushed us to go collect for it, solicit for it. Everybody else got in and did their part, too, but Gary was the push for us to finish that project. We thought it would take five years to get it finished, and it was up in three."

Though Gary was recognized for his contributions for the memorial, Sheryl said he always emphasized the community's support, too.

"He was very quick to point out it was a team effort of all the Vet Club board members, the businesses and Arlington community," she said. "He always brought that up whenever he received an award."

In terms of awards he's won — which include several for his work in military organizations, employee of the year as a correctional officer and District 8 Legion Citizen of the Year — Sheryl said Gary appreciated his accomplishments but still remained humble.

"He was proud of being recognized, but always thought that he wasn't doing anymore than anybody else was, and he was," she said.

Outside of his professional life, Sheryl said Gary cared deeply for his family and friends.

"Gary is one of those people where, if you meet him, you're then a friend," she said. "He was very outgoing, liked to joke with people, he could talk to anybody and make connections easily.

"(He really enjoyed) getting together with his family, his daughter, his grandchildren, his nieces and nephews."

Chris Martens' father and Gary were close friends, so he naturally grew close to Gary over the years.

"We always considered Gary our uncle, because he was so close to us," Martens said. "When my dad passed away in '93... we became really close. We were golfing buddies, went golfing all the time. It's one of those things where he became kind of a father figure to me and my siblings."

Martens said Gary was known for being a kind individual.

"He was a one-of-a-kind guy," he said. "He would give the shirt off his back to help anybody out. He just had a heart of gold, never had a mean streak in his body."

Gary also enjoyed living out in the country, fishing, hunting, golfing and attending Husker football games.

One of Gary's most memorable moments, Sheryl said, was when she was able to take him into a skybox at Memorial Stadium.

"It was always on his bucket list," she said. "I needed to fulfill that wish. It was the one time in my life I'd seen Gary speechless.

"It was the happiest I've ever seen him. It was the highlight of his life."

Sheryl said there's many things she'll miss about Gary.

"I'll miss his sense of humor, companionship and his love," she said. "And just him being here, his presence in the house. And to be totally honest, the last nine months, taking care of him as his illness progressed. He required more and more of my time, and that's left a big hole, too.

"When he was diagnosed with his illness and we were told it was terminal, Gary and I made a pact with each other that we were not going to turn this into a sad time. So, we made sure that we kept things very upbeat. He did, I did. People have commented that he had such a good attitude about his illness. He had a very strong faith, he knew he was going to heaven."

Bremer said knowing Gary a long time, he'll miss his camaraderie the most.

"He was just a likable person. He was the kind of person that... when he would speak, you'd listen," he said. "He loved his country and loved his legion."

Some of Martens' favorite memories include golfing and attending Husker games with Gary.

"I remember this one time we went golfing up in Hooper and we did 18 holes, and (after lunch), he looked at me and said, 'Are you busy?' and said, 'Want to do another 18 holes of golf?' and I said, 'Sure, why not?'" he said. "That's one thing I'm going to miss — my golfing buddy."

Knowing his impact on the community has made Sheryl feel grateful for Gary.

"It was so comforting, to me, the number of people that were at his service," she said. "The cards and the comments are just over and over about what a wonderful, happy personality (he had)."

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

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