Home > United States of America > Nebraska > Fillmore County > Geneva > Geneva Cemetery > John Gewacke

John Gewacke

Birth	:	30 Oct 1907 Ohiowa, Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA
Death	:	25 Jun 1989 Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Geneva Cemetery, Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.5359900, -97.6064900
Plot	:	Sec. 5 Lot 188 Plot 01
Description	:	John Clifford Gewacke, son of William C. Gewacke and Elizabeth Wernimont Gewacke, was born on October 30, 1907, at Ohiowa, and passed away in Geneva on June 25, 1989, at the age of 81 years and 8 months. He attended country school and then graduated from Geneva High School in 1924. He was a member of the Geneva High School debate team which won the State Debate Championship. He went on to receive his A.B. Degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1928. His skills as an orator were further enhanced as he was a member of the... Read More	John Clifford Gewacke, son of William C. Gewacke and Elizabeth Wernimont Gewacke, was born on October 30, 1907, at Ohiowa, and passed away in Geneva on June 25, 1989, at the age of 81 years and 8 months. He attended country school and then graduated from Geneva High School in 1924. He was a member of the Geneva High School debate team which won the State Debate Championship. He went on to receive his A.B. Degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1928. His skills as an orator were further enhanced as he was a member of the debate team in college, and won two national oratorical championships. From there he was determined that he was going to become a lawyer, and in 1932, graduated from Nebraska College of Law. He so loved the land and people where he grew up, he established a law practice for the next 56 years. As a young lawyer only in practice for three years, he was urged to run for County Attorney and won in 1935. His dedication to Fillmore County and the law profession were evident as he remained county attorney for the next 40 years. With his career settled, he had one thing on his mind when he first laid eyes on Dorothy Knight, a school teacher at Geneva High, “I’m going to marry her” he thought to himself, and sure enough on August 16, 1942, he did marry Dorothy and over the next nine years together they produced three children, Joan Elizabeth Sargent, Virginia Suzanne Brusven and Marilyn Ann Gewacke. As with most fathers of three daughters, John would never be quite the same. For family life became one of the dearest and most rewarding parts of living. Dorothy, Joan, Virginia and Marilyn and their families will continue to be a living testimony to John’s love of life and family. But marriage and beginning a family were not the only things he was busy with in the early part of the 1940’s for he served in the armed services in World War II from June of 1941 to October of 1945. Soon after he and Dorothy returned to their home in Geneva, he became very active in community affairs and became president of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. As president in 1948, he organized and promoted the Abraham Lincoln Friendship Train from Nebraska which shipped over two hundred car loads of food to Europe. In fact, he won the Aksarben Good Neighbor Award for this humanitarian effort. For John, the community in which he lived became such an important part of who he was. He was a member of and past-president of Rotary Club which he started here in Geneva. He was a member of the United Methodist Church which was a very important part of his life. In the church he was chairman of the Official Board, Sunday school superintendent and served on many other church offices. His daughters remember well that as Sunday school superintendent, every Christmas he would bring lots of candy and brown paper bags home, lay them out on the dining room table and fill them for all the kids in the Christmas Program. It was tempting, but they too had to wait their turn to get their bags at the church. In 1966, John served as chairman of the building campaign for our new Sunday School Unit. Nebraska Wesleyan University, his alma mater, always held a special place in John’s heart. He was past-president of the Nebraska Wesleyan Alumna Group in addition to serving as a member on many committees at Wesleyan. He was so proud when Wesleyan paid tribute to him by putting his name on one of the rooms in the newly restored Old Main building. John was also past Board Chairman of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Nebraska. He served as past-master of the Masonic Lodge and a member for more than 50 years, as well as being a member of the Eastern Star. In addition, John was an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy. Through his life, John continued to be known for his skills as an orator, as he did much public speaking in eastern Nebraska, speaking in many churches, giving Memorial Day and High School Commencement addresses. But probably there was no more appreciative audience than his family. His daughters remember so many times when their dad would recite his own poetry from memory, because it was those times when they knew the true depth and greatness of their father. John Gewacke was obviously a role model for us all, for his beliefs in his family, community, profession and God never faltered. It is clear that John not only believed in life, but lived life to the fullest. Those especially close to him have often said that just by being close to him, they better understood the importance of living life fully with conviction and genuine curiosity. There are so many things his family remembers. His love for the countryside and travel to new sights and cultures. John had seen all fifty states at least once and traveled over much of the world. Yet, he was always the first to say, “There is no place like Nebraska.” And even though his daughters live in Illinois, Minnesota and New York, they know in their hearts, that their father was right. There was no greater Big Red Nebraska football fan than John, and probably when the fall season starts, you will still be able to hear his voice, somewhere overhead cheering the team to victory. Other memories shared by his daughters and grandchildren include: going to the Knight family cabin every summer where he was the best water ski puller on the whole lake. And there were those special times when his girls would come to him for that so needed fatherly advice and no matter what the circumstances, he would always reassuringly say, “It’ll be okay.”And it always was. It was through his eyes that the girls understood the unique beauty of the Nebraska plains as well as the seasonal changes he loved so. To his wife and daughters, he was both the thinker and doer, the poet and romantic, the fighter and peacemaker, but most of all a gentle man with a generous heart. Through him his daughters have said that they learned to understand the spirit of life and laughter, to appreciate song and poetry and to become aware of the essence of spirituality and God. They remember his unique way of telling stories and of his playing the piano and singing many tunes, but especially his favorite and theirs, “You Are My Sunshine.” He was not only a wonderful father and husband, but a loving friend as well. His grandchildren know that love, as well, for he dearly loved all of his 13 grandchildren. When visiting granddaddy, all of them would run up to him and say, “Granddaddy, can we play jail?” And he would chase after them, catch them between his knees and hold them in “Jail” until they would say the magic word “please.” Sometimes it was so fun being caught by granddaddy that they would pretend not to know how to get released. John will be missed greatly by all that knew him. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his girls, Joan Elizabeth Sargent, Virginia Suzanne Brusven and Marilyn Ann Gewacke; and his 13 grandchildren, Andrew, Katie, Bill, Mathew, Chris, Molly, Elizabeth, Jeff, Sam, Kelly and Michael Sargent, and Nathan and Ashley Stockwell. He also is survived by his brother, Clyde Gewacke of Ohiowa, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were conducted form the United Methodist Church in Geneva on Wednesday, June 28, with the Rev. Cal Leeds officiating. Mrs. Judy Ackland accompanied the congregational hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and the Ray and Margaret Nichols family, who sang “Thy Will Be Done” and “Whispering Hope.” Those serving as pallbearers were Robert Bailey, John Fahlberg, Charles Grothe Sr., Howard W. Hamilton, Herman L. Larsen and Richard Maresh. Interment with Masonic graveside services were conducted by the Geneva Masonic Lodge from the Geneva Public Cemetery. The Nebraska Signal July 6 1989 page 5.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John Gewacke's memorial?
John Gewacke's memorial is located at: Geneva Cemetery, Geneva, Fillmore County, USA.
When did John Gewacke death?
John Gewacke death on 25 Jun 1989 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John Gewacke's memorial?
Latitude: 40.5359900
Longitude: -97.6064900

Family Members:

Parent

William G. “Will” Gewacke

(1871 - 1942)

Elizabeth Wernimont Gewacke

(1872 - 1957)

Spouse

Dorothy Jeanette Knight Gewacke

(1918 - 2004)

Siblings

Clyde W. Gewacke

(1905 - 1996)

Children

Virginia Suzanne Gewacke Brusven

(1948 - 2007)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Geneva Cemetery
Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5359900, -97.6064900

2. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5184200, -97.6145000

3. Fairmont Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6267014, -97.5674973

4. Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4668999, -97.7097015

5. Chelsea Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4808006, -97.4882965

6. Fairmont Catholic Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6394005, -97.5689011

7. Saint Marys Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4816700, -97.7295400

8. Holy Cross Cemetery
Grafton, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6150017, -97.7108002

9. Grafton Cemetery
Grafton, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6157990, -97.7106018

10. Shickley Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4166985, -97.7082977

11. Glengary Pioneer Cemetery
Ohiowa, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4518100, -97.4544100

12. Salem Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3945000, -97.6733000

13. Bohemian Brethren Cemetery
Milligan, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5098300, -97.4058300

14. Roe Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6912000, -97.5955000

15. Harmony Cemetery
Strang, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3788986, -97.5381012

16. Fairview Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4817009, -97.8133011

17. Ohiowa Cemetery
Ohiowa, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4235992, -97.4428024

18. Exeter Cemetery
Exeter, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6521988, -97.4364014

19. Horton Cemetery
Exeter, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6911011, -97.5025024

20. Bohemian National Cemetery
Milligan, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4818993, -97.3878021

21. Saint Johns Lutheran Church Cemetery North
Ohiowa, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4213982, -97.4253006

22. Kasak Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5393000, -97.3683000

23. Stockholm Lutheran Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4091988, -97.7767029

24. Summit Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3656006, -97.6913986