Gene L. Greenwalt

Eugene L. “Gene” Greenwalt, 88, of St. Libory, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at Brookefield Park in St. Paul. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Libory's Catholic Church in St. Libory. Rev. Sidney Bruggeman, Rev. Richard Piontkowski and Deacon Donald Placke will concelebrate the Mass. Burial will be in the parish cemetery with graveside military honors by Mickelsen Larkowski American Legion Post 241 of Dannebrog. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of the arrangements. Gene was born Dec. 16, 1928, on the family farm west of St. Libory, the son of John and Lucy (Grayek) Greenwalt. He attended rural schools in the St. Libory area and as a young man did a lot of custom work and was a farmhand for area farmers. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War from March 1951 until his discharge in Dec. 1952. In Nov. 1951, Gene received the Purple Heart after being wounded in battle. After his discharge, he returned to St. Libory to farm. He was united in marriage to Helen E. Volkl on Feb. 8, 1958, at St. Libory. The couple first lived in Grand Island where he and his brother, Lyle, operated the Skelly Gas Station at 7th and Eddy Streets, for several years. He and Lyle then farmed together in the Cairo and Farwell areas. In 1963, he and Helen moved onto the Greenwalt homestead where they farmed and operated a dairy until 1980. Gene continued to farm the rest of his life. He was a member of St. Libory's Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council No. 1918 of St. Paul, Mickelsen Larkowski American Legion Post 241 of Dannebrog, Military Order of Purple Heart USA No. 0632 of Grand Island and the Platt- Duetsche of Grand Island. He served on the Farmers Union Cooperative board and also the Central Nebraska Community Services board and served as a 4-H leader for a number of years. Gene was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling, fishing, air boating, playing the accordion and playing cards with his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Helen of St. Libory; three daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Tony Grotzky of Grand Island, Janet and Clark Ritz of St. Libory and Susan and Jerry Milner of Grand Island; 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Robert, Clarence and Lyle Greenwalt. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.