Kenneth Herbert Gadeken, 88, of Sterling passed away surrounded by his family at Gold Crest Retirement Center in Adams on Thursday, September 19, 2019.  One of five children of Henry, Sr. and Lena (Kolsch) Gadeken, he was born February 18, 1931 in Talmage.  He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church of Talmage.  He attended school in Talmage until he began farming with his dad and later joining the Marines.  On November 27, 1955, Kenneth was united in marriage to Donna Beth Harms at St. John Lutheran Church in Sterling.  They were blessed with five children, Joyce, Larry, Julie, Janet and Jeanne.   They lived near Talmage until purchasing a Grade A dairy and moving to Sterling to raise their family.  He was a custodian for many years, working at Sterling Public and Wilber Public Schools, and Grace Lutheran Church in Lincoln.  He was a long-time member of the St. John Lutheran Church of Sterling.  Ken was known as a “Jack of all trades” from farmer, custodian, carpenter to bus driver.   He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, attending the kids’ activities, seeing new places and revisiting old ones, and watching old westerns on TV.

He will be missed by his children and their spouses, Joyce  (Dennis) Boslau of Sterling, Larry (Kathleen) Gadeken of Panama, Julie (Lonnie) Damme of Cook, Janet (Thomas) Nickles of Wilber and Jeanne (Terry) Meier of Lincoln; 12 grandchildren, Brian Boslau, Jason (Tami) Damme, Becky (Mike) Sena, Nathan (Britney) Damme, Brandon (Tara) Damme, Stephanie (Jeremy) Ray, Christopher (Danica) Gadeken, Andrew Nickles, Justin (Jacqueline) Damme, Tyler Nickles, Peyton Meier and Reagan Meier; 14 great-grandchildren, Adysen, Braxton, Gabrielle, Chase, Jocelyn, Hayden, Benjamin, Harlee, Gavin, Cadence, Keegan, Adilyn, Evelyn, Wesley and number 15 and 16 both due in January; brother, Henry, Jr. (Ardis) Gadeken of Lincoln, sister, Betty (Louis) Lobascio of Pembroke Pines, FL, brother-in-law, Larry (Sally) Harms of Durango, CO, sisters-in-law, Harlene (Ervin) Hansen, Dolores (Paul – deceased) Grotrian, Carol (Larry) Hall and many other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by wife Donna, who died October 27, 2000; parents, Henry, Sr. and Lena (Kolsch) Gadeken; parents-in-law, Harm and Evalene (Sargent) Harms; brother, Ervin and sister, Esther.

Funeral services will be held at St. John Lutheran Church of Sterling on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 10:30 A.M. with Pastor Kevin Arndt officiating.  A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 A.M. on Tuesday at the church.  A memorial has been established to the family for future designation with Erma Hazen in charge.  Burial will be in the Sterling Cemetery of Sterling.  Military graveside honors will be conducted by the Harm Sangen Post #140 of the American Legion of Sterling.  The body will lie in state at the Zink-Fox Funeral Home of Sterling from 12:00 noon until 8:00 P.M. Monday and at the church one hour preceding the services on Tuesday.  The family will meet and greet friends and relatives on Monday from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.  www.foxfuneralhome.net  Zink-Fox Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.