Gary Linder

Gary Linder

Our father, Gary Linder, passed away in his sleep Monday, March 16, 2026 at Good Samaritan Society in Millard. Dads health had been declining since Moms funeral and he started hospice in early February, on top of the excellent care-giving Good Sam provides. We were encouraged to consider it after he broke his hip last year, and after discussing Dad’s wishes amongst us kids, we agreed. Dad’s been on a pretty steady decline since Mom died in May, mentally and physically I wasn’t fully tracking how much covering Mom was doing for him but I suspect his usual “quiet, just listening” demeanor along with Moms engaged and outgoing persona helped mask his mental changes from most of us.

Now that Mom is gone, there were good and bad days. Thankfully many were good - tracking on conversations a little bit, asking questions about family, pets, grandkids, etc., and occasionally (re-)telling a story about Grand Island or him and Mom. However, many times he couldn’t recognizing us kids.

Specific to his mental state, there was a marked decline since late February. Although he was responding well to hospice care, he was falling frequently at night - we suspect he didn’t remember to use the call button for a nurse. Until recently he has been receptive to the assistance after the falls, but he’s started showing uncharacteristic signs of agitation and aggression.

On Monday (March 9), nursing tried to help him up for breakfast, he was in an altered state (not actually awake) and resisted efforts to help him out of bed. Kate and I both came and had lunch with him while he remained in bed. He slept for most of the hours we were there. Though there were times when we could make out his attempts to talk in sentences, they were fragments almost like conversations within his mind. Amanda flew in Tuesday and he was ‘rallying’ a bit with her here that afternoon, but by that evening he had slipped back into the unconscious state and has remained there since.

On the morning of March 16, 2023, Dad passed away at 12:30AM - Kate, Amanda, and Dan had spent most of the past week at his side 24 hours a day, so when he passed Amanda and Kate were at his side.

"I realized life is just a collection of memories, and memories are like starlight: they go on forever." - C. W. McCall, Aurora Borealis

Funeral Information

We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their kind thoughts and wishes during this time as we deal with the loss of Gary William Linder - beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend.

Thank you,

The Family of Gary Linder

Events

Listed in order of occurrence:

  1. Visitation: Thursday, March 19, 5:00 PM, at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary, Aurora, Nebraska
  2. Funeral: Friday, March 20, 10:00 AM, at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary, Aurora, Nebraska
  3. Burial: Following the funeral, at Case Cemetery, Giltner, Nebraska
  4. Reception: Following the burial, at the Bremer Community Center, Aurora, Nebraska

Visitation

Visitation for Gary and time with the family will be on Thursday, March 19, at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora, Nebraska, starting at 5:00 PM.

Address: Higby-McQuiston Mortuary, 1404 L St, Aurora, NE 68818

Google Maps: Higby-McQuiston Mortuary

Funeral

The funeral will be held at the Higby-McQuiston Mortuary on Friday, March 20, at 10:00 AM.

Participants

Officiant: TODO

Pianist: TODO

Eulogy: TODO

Tribute: TODO

Pallbearers:

  • Dan Linder
  • Nick Dimitrov
  • Lee Chaney

Burial

Gary’s burial will take place at the Case Cemetery, about a mile from the homestead where he met Mary.

If you prefer to not attend the burial, you are welcome to go to the Bremer Community Center - family members will return there for the reception following the burial.

Directions ot the Cemetery from Giltner:

  1. Starting in Giltner, Nebraska, head west town on West 6 Road
  2. Continue 3.5 miles west to South D Road
    • You will see "Bish Enterprises" on the south side of the road at this corner.
  3. Turn left (south) onto South D Road
  4. Continue south 2.5 miles. Case Cemetery will be on your left (east side)
    • Look for a simple metal archway and a chain-link fence surrounding the site.

Mapping tools:

Reception

The reception will be held at the Bremer Community Center, Aurora Nebraska following the burial.

A small selection of drinks (coffee, tea, lemonaid, and water) and finger foods (including sandwiches, cookies, and popcorn) will be provided.

Donations and Gifts

In memory of our Dad, we ask that you donate to the Alzheimer's Association in his name:

Flowers at Service

  • TODO

Notice and Obituary

Notice

Gary W. Linder, age 83, of Omaha, formerly of Giltner, passed away Monday, March 16, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society in Millard.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, March 20th at the Chapel of Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora. Pastor Mary Scott will officiate. Interment will be at the Case Cemetery west of Giltner. Visitation will be from 5 - 7 P.M. Thursday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Condolences may be sent to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY

Gary William Linder, the son of William Harold and Edna Irene (Bergholz) Linder, was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, on August 19, 1942, and passed away in Millard, Nebraska, on March 16, 2026, at the age of 83.

Gary grew up in Grand Island and graduated from Grand Island Senior High School. He went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska. Gary served in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant 5th Class in the Communications Group from 1965 to 1969, serving in Vietnam, before being honorably discharged.

Gary was united in marriage to Mary Ann Dangler on June 6, 1966, in her family home in Giltner. He worked for IBM from 1965 to 1973 and for NPPD for 29 years, retiring in 2002. During his career, the family lived in Giltner; Topeka, Kansas; Juniata, Nebraska; and Columbus, Nebraska. After retiring, Gary and Mary moved to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, to be closer to family. Mary passed away on May 23, 2025.

Gary enjoyed working with computers, tending to his rose garden, enjoying trains, listening to Johnny Cash, restoring his ’40s Ford truck, volunteering in his community, and—above all—spending time with his family and their many pets. He was a devoted husband and father, who leaves behind a legacy of strength and kindness.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife, Mary.

Those left to cherish his memory include his three children: Daniel (Kris) Linder of Bellevue, Nebraska; Kate Linder (Nick Dimitrov) of Omaha; and Amanda Jo (Levi) Hackwith of Vancouver, Washington; as well as three grandchildren: Jillian Linder of Portland, Oregon; Nikolas Dimitrov of Omaha; and Liam Linder of Bellevue. He is also survived by his two brothers, Grant Linder and Greg Linder, and by many nieces, nephews, and other beloved family and friends.

Special Thanks

And special thanks to everyone for their support of us in this time.

  • The staff at Good Samaritan Society - Making Mom and Dads lives easier
  • The Suncrest hospice staff - Making Dads passing easier
  • Jen N. and all the staff at Good Sam - Helping Dad and us adapt to his new life after Mom

Family Contact Information

If you need to reach the family, please email us. We’ll respond as soon as we’re able.

Email: [email protected]

Thank you - Daniel, Kate, and Amanda

Family Thoughts

TODO

Footnotes

The Case Cemetery is a small family cemetery established by the Case family in 1873 for their descendants.

Over the generations, many family members have been buried here—some who lived remarkably long lives (over 100 years), and others whose time was heartbreakingly brief, including mothers and their newborns laid to rest together.

As a child visiting in the 1970s and 1980s, I remember seeing headstones so worn and weathered that they had fallen over or were nearly illegible.

While visiting to prepare for our parents funerals, Kate and I walked around and saw that these old stones had been restored—cleaned, remounted, and preserved for future generations. I am deeply grateful to those who donated their time, money, and skills to this effort.

Mom and Dad’s headstone is of the “bench” variety - meant to be used. If you find yourself there, please take a moment to sit, reflect, and honor the memory of those who came before us.

— Dan Linder

Headstone