Lloyd “Bud” Eugene Gill, age 80, of Stapleton, NE passed away on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Lloyd was born on March 13, 1944 in Spirit Lake, Idaho to Harold Vincent and Hilda Clara (Suckstorf) Gill.
Lloyd graduated from Stapleton High School in 1962. He loved running track and competed in the Class C State Track Meet three times. As a senior in 1962, he finished 5th in the 100 yard dash and was part of the winning 880-yard relay team that set the state record. During the summers, he particularly enjoyed spending time with family on the Kramer Farm.
He graduated from trade school in Milford, NE as a Diesel Mechanic in 1964 and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served three tours in Vietnam before marrying the love of his life. Lloyd and Gwen were united in marriage on July 7, 1969 in San Diego, California. He proposed in a letter!
Lloyd attended Central Bible College in Springfield, MO for three years, then felt called to re-enlist in the U.S. Navy. Throughout his Naval Career, he received numerous decorations, medals, and promotions. He proudly served our great country for 26 years, retiring in 1993 as a U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer. In January 1994, Lloyd was excited to return to Stapleton and start a second career with Union Pacific Railroad. He was with U.P. for 22 years as a machinist and retired in 2016.
Lloyd and Gwen have three beautiful daughters, April (1970), Deborah (1975), and Esther (1981). Lloyd was well known for his vegetable gardens, especially his prized tomatoes. He thoroughly enjoyed vacations with his family and paused (to his daughters' dismay) at EVERY historical marker along the way. He was a lifetime member of the VFW. Above all, Lloyd valued his Faith and Family. He especially delighted in his grandchildren and his great grandchildren.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 54 years, Gwen; daughters April Gill-Norton of Mitchell, SD, Deborah (Robert) Gill-Domen of Fernandina Beach, FL, and Esther Gill of Omaha, NE; grandchildren Lauren Corona, Damien Dishmond, Morgan Domen, McKenzie Banks, Andrew Dishmond, Breonna Gill, and Brock Norton; great grandchildren Aurora, Ayla, Asher, Taten, and Artis; siblings Lois Musgrave of McCook, NE, Laura Stalnaker of Wichita, KS, Mary (Steve) Claycomb of Lakewood, CO, and Daniel (Susie) Gill of Round Rock, TX; and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Mikayla Marie Norton; siblings Donald Gill, Lila Little, Carl Gill, and Larry Gill; brother-in-law Court Stalnaker; and nephews Kevin Stalnaker, Kipper Stalnaker, and Charles Stoeger.
Visitation with the family receiving friends will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 27th, with a time of family sharing storeis from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m., at Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte, NE.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with Pastor Scott McClellen officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Fort McPherson National Veterans Cemetery, near Maxwell, NE. Carpenter Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the family for future designation. Online condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.carpentermemorial.com.