Garry Ray Dodge, 76, of North Platte, NE passed away Saturday, June 23, 2018 at his home from complications of Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was born February 19, 1942 at Callaway, NE to Ernest and Rose (Sladky) Dodge. He grew up and attended school in Callaway, NE. Garry married the love of his life, Karen Leibhart on January 21, 1961. To this union three children were born, Debra, Susan, and Garry Jr.
Garry worked many years around Callaway. He began his career on the Union Pacific Railroad in May of 1969 as an engineer and was also Road Foreman of Engineers for nine years. Garry retired in 1995 with medical issues. He still enjoyed telling railroad stories and missed all of his co-workers.
In his retirement he was able to enjoy family and especially his grandkids whom he loved dearly. He loved telling them stories, he was quite the story teller and the grandkids were a good audience whether the stories were true or not. For anyone that knew Garry or even crossed paths with him, he always had a corny joke to make you smile.
What a talented man he was. Garry could fix anything, build anything, he was an excellent carpenter and was a very hard-working man. He helped anyone that needed help and loved Nebraska Football games. Garry was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. His family was his life. He loved his home at the lake. You never saw Garry in the last few years that he didn’t have a book in his hand. He loved puzzles, crossword, scratch tickets, and Texas Hold’em. If anyone mentioned gambling, he was ready to go! His other favorite things to do were pitching horseshoes, fishing with the grandkids, and metal detecting because he always knew he would find a treasure.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 plus years, Karen of North Platte; daughters, Debra Dodge and Susan Yager both of North Platte; son, Garry Dodge Jr. and Monica of North Platte; grandchildren, Jason Haines and Calley, Jeremy Haines and Riley, Logan (Mackenzie) Yager, Melissa Dodge, Christian Dodge, and Cory Dodge; great-grandchildren, Shelby, Faith, Ava, Daelynn, and Will; numerous nieces, nephews, and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; twin brother, Larry; brothers, Ernie, Dean, and Wayne; sister-in-law, Gerry; father and mother-in-law, June and Ilene Leibhart; sister-in-law, Deanna Harriman; and nephews, Dennis and Duane Harriman.
Memorials may be made in his memory and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 28, 2018 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with the Reverend Jeremy Rinke officiating. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday with the family receiving friends 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.