Vernon Joseph Gute, the son of Lawrence John Sr. and Mary Margaret (Brinks) Gute was born on Dec. 3, 1939, in Carroll. He passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., at the age of 84.
Vern grew up on his family’s farm south of Carroll, and graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School. Vern enlisted in the United States Army following his schooling and served three years, 1958-1961, stationed in Cleveland with the 67th Artillery Group, Warrenville Station. Vern married Linda (Elwood) on Dec. 31, 1966, they were married for 57 years, they had six children and 15 grandchildren. Vern worked most of his professional career as an automotive body mechanic. He worked for O’Daniel Oldsmobile in Omaha for the majority of his career, as well as Tracy’s Collision in South Omaha, and Baxter Chrysler Auto Body in West Omaha. Vern retired at the age of 65 in June 2005.
When Vern’s children were young, he attended many sporting events supporting them and even coached them while they were in little league baseball. He was also a volunteer in the Modale Volunteer Fire Department for many years. He enjoyed spending some of his free time with his friends having a drink or trying his luck in one of the local casinos. Later in life, you could find him lounging in his recliner watching an old western, whether it was good or not. If he wasn’t watching a western, he’d probably seen countless times, he could be found watching any kind of sport.
Vern is survived by his wife, Linda of Modale; his children, Kenny Gute (Lisa Vavra) of Modale, Amy Salas (Danny) of St. Michael, Minn., Janet Shearer (Travis) of Mondamin, Jeffrey Gute of Mondamin, David Gute (Jodi) of Carson, and Scott Gute(Emilee) of Elkhorn, Neb.; his grandchildren, Kori Schulenberg (Drew), Morgan Jackson (Trent), Mia Salas, Mason Shearer, Megan Salas, Emma Gute, Harrison Gute, Lea Gute, Isabella Gute, Max Salas, Reese Gute, Owen Gute, Harper Gute, Augustus Gute, and Colin Gute; his siblings, Alvin Gute of Carroll, Marilyn Schram of Gretna, Neb., Juanita Bruno (Joe) of Marseilles, Ill., Dennis Gute (Ann) of Carroll, Eugene Gute of Afton and Arlene Brooks of Haines, Ark.
Vern is preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Mary Gute; his brother, Larry Gute; sister, Lucile Sandquist; sister-in-law, Dorene Gute; and brothers-in-law, Charles Sandquist and George Schram.
Memorials in Vernon’s memory may be directed to the Modale Fire Department or Mondamin Fire Department.
Funeral service was held on April 28, 2024.
Arrangements made by Hennessey Funeral Home.