Gerald ‘Jerry’ Ray Vrbka, age 73, of Shelby, Nebraska, passed away August 11, 2025 at the Bryan Medical Center East in Lincoln.

Memorial services will be held Monday, August 18, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Shelby Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Andrew Litt officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday, August 17 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. with a 5:00 p.m. Rosary at the church. Organist will be Avis Rathje. Vocalists will be Stacy Stewart and Denise Humlicek. Musical selections will be “Lead Me, Lord”, “Servant Song”, “We Are The Light Of The World”, “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman”, and “Amazing Grace.” Inurnment will be in the Shelby Cemetery.

Jerry was born February 4, 1952 in Shelby to Raymond L. and Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Jane Augustin. He attended school in Shelby, graduating from Shelby High School in 1970 and began farming.

On November 27, 1976 he was united in marriage to Margaret ‘Peg’ Louise Gabriel at Shelby Sacred Heart Catholic Church. To this union two sons were born. Jerry continued farming while working at Master Care Patient Equipment and then Johnson Sand & Gravel. He helped mow the fairways at Ryan Hill Country Club in Osceola where he was a member for many years. He was an avid golfer and was proud of his hole-in-one there. For the past 28 years, Jerry and Peg, along with three other couples, went on an annual golf trip.

Jerry enjoyed driving around the country in his brown pickup and checking on neighbors. You could also find him sitting by the grain bins, reading the paper, drinking diet Coke and listening to sports radio or watching slot machine videos on YouTube. Jerry liked to stop at different local bars to check in with people, and use his old Flip Phone that he wouldn’t give up.

Jerry especially enjoyed following all his grandsons sports, and visiting casinos. He was a lifelong Yankee fan and bowled on a bowling team in Columbus called Olympian Village.

He was a member of Shelby Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he took it upon himself to open the doors to exit church every week, Sons of American Legion, Shelby-R.C. Booster Club and was on the football Chain Gang for many years as he especially enjoyed sideline coaching.

Survivors include his wife Peg of Shelby; sons Heath (Kelsey) Vrbka of Rising City, Thomas (Joy) Vrbka of Auburn, AL; four grandsons: Coy, Jett, Nash and Beau; siblings: Judy (Kevin) McWilliams of Springfield, MO, Lori Freeman of Lincoln, Andy (Jodie) Vrbka of Columbus, Angie (Virgil) King of Shelby, Nancy Vrbka of Omaha; brothers-in-law Gary Ott of Osceola and Tim (Mary) Gabriel of Fremont; sisters-in-law Barb (Kurt) Swanson of Shelby and Carol (Todd) Faller of Waco and many beloved nieces, nephews, many God Children and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Betty Vrbka; siblings Susan Ott and Cal Vrbka; grandparents Joseph and Tillie Vrbka and Harman and Helen Augustin; brother-in-law LaVerne Kuhnel; and parents-in-law Jerome ‘Lefty’ and Pat Gabriel.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later.

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