Wayne Russell

Wayne E. Russell of Gurley, Nebraska passed away at his home on July 31, 2013.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Monday, August 5, 2013 in the United Church of the Plains, Trinity site in Dalton, Nebraska with Pastors Leon “Bud” Gillespie and Eric Alm officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Dalton Cemetery.

Cremation has taken place and there is no visitation at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials are to the Gurley Fire Department-Rescue Unit and United Church of the Plains building fund.

Wayne Ellsworth Russell was born May 4, 1939 in Oxford, Ne to Leonard and Vena Prickett Russell. As a small child he moved with his family to Lyman, Ne and then to Sioux Ordnance Depot, Sidney in 1946. The family moved to Potter in 1949. Wayne graduated from Potter High School in 1957. He was an outstanding athlete in football, basketball and track. He has stayed in contact with most of his high school classmates and fellow Boy Staters from 1956, and enjoyed reminiscing about his high school years. He was married to Bernice Freudenberg on August 12, 1960 in Gurley and has made his home in Gurley since.

He began working for local farmers at the age of 11, running tractor. He also worked for Wes Herboldsheimer building terraces in the area before moving to Denver and working at Gates Rubber. He became a carpenter in 1959, working for Henry Marx in Sidney, building new homes and remodeling. He also worked for Mel Adams, Ray Josten and Carl Christ in the construction business. He had his own construction business for several years and took a lot of pride in doing a good job. He joined Cabela’s in 1990 remodeling the old downtown store/business building and general construction and maintenance as needed. He retired in 2001 and had been in failing health since that time suffering from COPD.


Wayne served his community well. He was Boys Scout Leader, coached Little League baseball, assisted with 4-H club, Gurley Fire Department including the tournament teams, served on the Gurley Grace Lutheran (ELCA) Church Council, Youth Group Sponsor and was a member of the Sidney Elks, serving as an officer for 2 years. He is a member of the United Church of the Plains, which includes the former Grace Lutheran.


Wayne enjoyed following his children and grandchildren in all their sports and other activities and attending Husker Football games until failing health prevented him from doing so. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, bird watching, and traveling throughout the United States. He loved family gatherings and having the grand and great grandchildren around.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 53 years, Bernice; sons Rodney/Nancy Russell of Potter and Bryan Russell of Gurley; daughters Janese (Harold) Travis and Jennifer (Dee J) Hellie of Gurley; grandchildren: Jessie and Brock Anderson of Seward, Justin/Tyree Russell of Gering, Amanda/Rob Reily of Bridgeport, Sheena/Ryan Jenson of Sidney, Riita Hellie of Casper, WY and Zach Hellie of Gurley; great-grandchildren Nataliy and Delaney Anderson, Blaine Russell, Mark Russell, Nora Jenson and Andric Grant; mother-in-law Marvel Freudenberg Moore of Gurley; brother Vaughn of Scottsbluff; sister-in-law Jeanette (Bill) Jackson of Columbus; brother-in-law Richard (Kay) Freudenberg of Lincoln; foster brother-in-law Randy (Marlene) Rohde of Columbus and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and extended family and special friends Peg Racek and Mikki Deeds.

He was pre-deceased in death by his parents and father-in-law Elmer Freudenberg, and granddaughter Sara Russell in 2007.

Holechek Funeral Home and Cremations in Sidney is serving the Russell family.