Gary C. Horst

Funeral services for Gary Horst, age 87, of Stanton, Nebraska will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Faith Lutheran Church in Stanton. Reverend William Engebretsen will officiate, with burial in Stanton Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed on the funeral home website.

Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church.

Home for Funerals-Stanton is in charge of arrangements.

Gary took his last breath on Earth and his first breath in heaven on April 13, 2025, at 8:40 a.m. surrounded by his children. He met Jesus face to face on Palm Sunday.

Gary Clayton Horst, son of Arthur and Vernie Horst, was born July 31, 1937, on the family farm south of Wisner. He attended District 19 Country School and Zion Lutheran School before graduating from Wisner High School in 1955. He joined the Army Reserves as a combat engineer, working on roads and bridges. He did his military training in Kansas, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

On November 30, 1969, Gary married Sandra Kurz at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Scribner. They were blessed with three children, Ryan, Karen, and Debra. Gary lived on his farm south of Wisner for 35 years, and then on a farm south of Pilger for 20 years. He loved working out in nature on his farm, taking care of God’s creation. Aside from raising corn, beans, and alfalfa, he raised cattle, hogs, and chickens. Gary had a special place in his heart for the cats that he would lovingly spoil with milk fresh from the cows.

In 1992 the Horst’s moved to Stanton, where Gary brought nature to his house in town by planting a veritable forest on their property. He would take care of his community by mowing lawns and assisting with snow removal.

Gary was a loyal family man, sticking by Sandra’s side for 50 years, through thick and thin, and was her rock through two bouts of cancer before her passing in 2020. He was devoted to his children and grandchildren, celebrating their confirmations, graduations, and weddings. He enjoyed fishing, loved taking road trip adventures, and playing Rummy (the Horst version). He was the door greeter for Tuesday morning bible studies in Norfolk, and he was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Stanton.

Gary is survived by his children Ryan Horst of Wisner, Karen (Ivan) Petersen of Norfolk, and Debra (Eric) Wegener of Bassett; grandchildren, Marshall, Mason (Kylie), and Kendra (fiancé Kamren Lingenfelter) Petersen, and Aleksus, Clayton, and Landen Wegener; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sandra; and sisters, Nila Hasenkamp and Shirley Horst.

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