Gerald Leon Hopwood

Gerald Leon Hopwood, age 84, of Shelby, Nebraska, passed away March 21, 2022 at his home in Shelby.

Memorial services will be held Friday, March 25, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Shelby Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Andrew Litt officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, March 24 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by 7:00 p.m. Rosary at the church. Organist will be Avis Rathje. Soloist will be Rita Houdersheldt. Musical selections will be “Here I Am Lord”, “Prayer of St. Francis”, “One Bread One Body”, “Song of Farewell” and “Amazing Grace.” Pallbearers will be grandchildren Seth Hopwood, Carolina Benda, Madelyn Hopwood, Cameron Hopwood, Jordan Hopwood, Brady Hopwood, Brittany Glienke, and Jamie Hopwood. Honorary pallbearers will be great grandchildren Arika Hopwood, Rowan Stuart and Waylon Hopwood. Inurnment will be in the Shelby Cemetery.

Gerald was born March 10, 1938 at the Shelby Hospital to Leon D. and Verda Mae (Hanshew) Hopwood. He attended country school south of Shelby and graduated from Shelby High School in 1955. Following high school he began farming south of Shelby.

On April 27, 1957 he was united in marriage to Donna Jean Eller at Shelby Sacred Heart Catholic Church. To this union three sons were born. They continued farming where Gerald also ran a repair shop on the farm. In the early 1980’s he and a partner formed DG Energy. In 1985 they moved from the farm into Shelby. Gerald enjoyed working with his brothers-in-law at Eller Farms for a few years before joining Shelby Co-op driving truck from 1986 to the mid 1990’s.

In retirement he enjoyed attending and following his grandchildren and their activities. He also enjoyed playing pool.

He was a member of Shelby Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife Donna Jean Hopwood of Shelby; sons Ronald (Darla) Hopwood, Roger Hopwood and Rodney (Sarah) Hopwood all of Shelby; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren; three sisters Nancy Nichols of Geneva, Jean Poppe of Osceola and Jane Hopwood of Arizona; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Leon and Verda; one grandson Caelan Hopwood and brother-in-law Dick Nichols.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later.

Dubas Funeral Home of Osceola and Stromsburg has been entrusted with arrangements.

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