DeWayne Harold Alexander, 87, of Gothenburg, passed away March 16, 2018, at his home with his family by his side.
DeWayne was born on July 31, 1930, in Holdrege to Ray and Nora (Green) Alexander. He attended school in Holdrege and graduated from Holdrege High School in 1948.
After graduation, he attended college at the University of Nebraska and Hastings College.
On Jan. 9, 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was aboard the USS Albuquerque (PF-7) and later transferred to the USS Floyd B. Parks (DD-884). DeWayne was a gunner mate and stood embassy watch for two years in Hong Kong. DeWayne was given an honorable discharge on Nov. 1, 1954.
DeWayne married Cathryn Darlene Lindstrom in Las Vegas, Nevada. To this union three children were born: Judy, Ron and Jill. They lived in Holdrege and North Platte before settling in Gothenburg, where he lived for 56 years. He worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and later Quest, retiring in 1985.
DeWayne was an avid sports fan. He loved to play and watch all kinds of sports. He played football for Holdrege High School and Nebraska University. He was chosen as athletic king at Holdrege High School. From a young age, he attended many Nebraska football games with his parents, and he even had tickets for the original seats his parents owned.
DeWayne loved to hunt and fish and took many trips to Alaska, Canada, South Dakota, Minnesota and all over Nebraska to fish with his son and friends. He loved to share his fishing knowledge and found great joy in teaching and taking his grandchildren fishing.
Golf was another passion of DeWayne’s. He loved to golf and was crowned Gothenburg City Champion for many years. He passed this love of golf on to his family. DeWayne and his son, Ron, were the first father and son to win titles of Gothenburg City Golf Champions.
DeWayne was a member of the American Lutheran Church, American Legion and Gothenburg Golf Association.
DeWayne was preceded in death by his parents; sister, DoraDean (Joe) Robinson; brother, William Alexander; brothers-in-law, Gerald Lindstrom, Wally Brown, Elliott Olesen and Richard Gloor; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Gloor and Ilene Brown; and his father- and mother-in-law, Lawrence and Elsie (Urbom) Lindstrom.
He is survived by his wife; son, Ron Alexander of Gothenburg; daughters, Judy (Rod) Jobman of Oviedo, Florida, and Jill (Ed) Sowders of Tryon; grandchildren, RJ Jobman of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Ryan (Karen) Jobman of Atlanta, Georgia, Alison (Zane) Piehl of North Platte and Jacob (Raegan) Sowders of Wichita, Kansas; great-grandchildren, Avery Jobman, Blayden Piehl and Carson Kaye Sowders; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Memorials are suggested to the Gothenburg Volunteer Fire Department or the American Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be shared at blasestrauser.com.
Services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 21, at the American Lutheran Church with Pastor Jon Mapa officiating. Burial will follow at the Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell. Visitation will from 1-8 p.m., with the family present from 5-7 p.m., on Tuesday, March 20, at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, which is in charge of arrangements.