Thomas Fehr

Thomas Fehr, 86, of Grand Island, Nebraska died Wednesday, December. 27, 2017 in Grand Island after a lifetime of love for God, his family, farming and Cornhusker football.

Visitation will start at 9:30 a.m and the service will start at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 30, 2017, at the Grand Island Evangelical Free Church. Burial will be at 2:30 in Sutton Cemetery, Sutton, Nebraska. Memorials are suggested to the family. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com.

Tom was born, July 18, 1931 in Sutton, Nebraska the son of Henry and Wilhelmina (Ehly) Fehr. He grew up the middle child of 10 brothers and sisters, all speaking German and English while working on the family farm. Years later he would tell stories of when they installed electricity and indoor plumbing. He graduated from Sutton High School in 1948 and enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 9, 1952. After basic training, he served as a draftsman in the Korean War, stationed in Taegu, Korea. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal on March 31, 1954.

He furthered his education at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where he studied engineering, then later transferred to Gulf Coast Bible College in Houston, Texas. While there, he met Velma Saathoff of Grand Island. Tom and Velma were married on December 22, 1959 in Hastings, Nebraska. The couple made their home in Grand Island.

He lived a life of loyalty and devotion to his faith, family, tractors and college football. Tom was fond of saying, Plan your work and work your plan. He was employed by Ford New Holland for 25 years, finishing and detailing combines. Tom was an active member of First Church of God in Hastings where the family attended for many years. Toms garden was the pride of the neighborhood, especially his tomatoes. There were always more than enough to be shared. He was a devoted Nebraska Cornhusker football fan and listened to or watched every game over the span of decades. He also enjoyed polkas, German home cooking and vintage tractors. His bright orange 1955 Allis Chalmers WD-45 won best of show and he drove it in the Worlds Largest Tractor Parade held at the Nebraska State Fair in August of 2012.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Velma Fehr of Grand Island; son Gary of Lincoln, Nebraska, two daughters, Rhonda of Calumet City, Illinois and Michelle (Liem) Nguyen of Austin, Texas, three grandchildren, Owen, Miles and Eli Nguyen; two sisters, Verna Arnall of Grand Island, Nebraska and Norma Hannon of San Antonio, Texas; three brothers, Milton Fehr and Henry (Jeannine) Fehr of Sutton, Nebraska, and Ronald (Charlotte) Fehr of Omaha, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Harrison and Raymond; sisters Gertrude Williams and Louise Huebert; brothers-in-law Raymond Williams, Pete Huebert, Bill Arnall and James Hannon; sisters-in-law Margarete Fehr, Rose Fehr and Karen Fehr; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Richard and Virginia Saathoff; and daughter-in-law Shannon Moncure.



Visitation:

Evangelical Free Church

9:30 AM ,Saturday, December 30, 2017



Funeral Services:

Evangelical Free Church

10:30 AM ,Saturday, December 30, 2017