Gerald Spurgin

Gerald Spurgin, age 70 of rural Paxton, passed away Wednesday, September 17, 2014 surrounded by family, at his home.
Gerald was born August 26, 1944 at North Platte, Nebraska to Harley and Marguerite (Thalken) Spurgin. He attended District 16 School at Paxton before graduating from Paxton High School in 1962.
Gerald attended UNL in pursuit of a degree in business when he took a job as a preliminary surveyor on the I-80 project for the State of Nebraska. Gerald eventually returned to the Paxton area, and began farming in 1967. On June 16, 1973, Gerald married Janice Mazour at Sacred Heart Church at Lawrence, NE. The couple made their home on the farm, where they raised their children and lived their entire married lives. In 2013, Gerald was diagnosed with cancer. Gerald and his family spent the subsequent days and months in a courageous fight against the cancer. Throughout all of the challenges and difficulties of his treatment, Gerald never lost his sense of humor, even at the end of his journey.
Gerald was a charter member of the Optimist Club of Paxton and was a past President. He had served for several years on the Ogallala Community Hospital Advisory Board, the Paxton School Board, was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was on the Parish Council for St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Gerald loved the outdoors. In his younger years, he was an avid fisherman and bow hunter. He still holds a bow hunting record that was published in Boone and Crocket. Gerald even taught hunter’s safety for many years. Since he loved spending time outdoors, he cherished every moment of his career in farming, which spanned nearly 50 years. In 2013, the family was honored with a tree-planting award by the NRD. Gerald was innovative, and got a great feeling of fulfillment in creating things that made life easier on the farm, and for his family and friends. Gerald worked hard to be a good example for his children and grandchildren; his example and guidance will be greatly missed by his family.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents; brother in law, Roger Mazour; sister in law, Corrine Mazour; and 2 unborn children.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Janice Spurgin of Paxton; 3 sons, Jeremy (Caroline) Spurgin of Paxton, Jon Spurgin of Paxton, Jacob (Krista) Spurgin of Paxton; daughter, Jocelyn Spurgin of Paxton; 4 grandchildren, Alexis, Kepler, Andromeda and Tycho; sister, Lorna Eileen (Tom) Hardman of Morris, IL; 2 brothers in law, David Mazour of Westminster, CO, Leonard (Jo) Mazour of Lawrence; and many other relatives and friends.
A memorial has been established in his memory. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the service will also be streamed live for those unable to attend.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, September 22, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Paxton with Father Bryan Ernest as celebrant. Burial will be in the Paxton Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Paxton with a Rosary to begin at 6 p.m.
Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.