Garry Edgar Phelps, 76, passed away peacefully with his loving wife by his side on July 27th, 2015 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. He was born on March 17th, 1939 in Max, Nebraska to Flotow and Ruby (Royse) Phelps. Garry moved to Wallace, Nebraska when he was just 4 years old, and spent the entirety of his life in the Wallace community. He graduated from Wallace High School in 1957. After high school he began work for the Wallace Lumberyard. Over the next 50 years he worked for the Wallace Coop, and along with his wife,
was the owner of the local grocery store, Phelps Market. He retired from the Lincoln County Road Department in 2006 after 31 years of service. Garry lived a simple life doing the things he loved most, hunting, fishing and spending time at the lake with his family and friends. He also gave much of his time to his community, serving as chairman of the Wallace Fall Festival on several occasions, acting as the Wallace Volunteer Fire Department Chief, and sitting on the Wallace Town Board. He will also be well remembered for his famous Bull Fries that always brought family and friends together for a good time. Garry married Helen Jeanette Fletcher on August 6th, 1960 in Wellfleet, Nebraska at the St. Williams
Catholic Church. They were happily married for 54 years. Garry was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Wallace. He enjoyed woodworking, carpentry, and playing on his tractor. If asked, he’d say his greatest accomplishment was raising three boys. Garry was preceded in death by his parents, Flotow and Ruby (Royse) Phelps; an infant son, Claude Allen; father in law, John Fletcher; mother in law, Melvina Fletcher (Gibson); sister in law, Carolyn DeMilt (Fletcher); and brother in law, Dean Lundvall.
Garry is survived by his spouse, Helen Jeanette of Wallace, NE; his sons, Gerry (Diana) Phelps of North Platte, Nebraska, Barry (Blake) Olesen-Phelps of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Patrick (Sharen) Phelps of Chappell, Nebraska; his sister, Marita Lundvall of Wallace, Nebraska; his brother, Darrel ( Peggy) Phelps of Grand Junction, Colorado; and his sister, Luana (Don) Cross of Munds Park, Arizona. Garry also leaves 10 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and other relatives he loved dearly.
Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. A Rosary will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wallace Nebraska at 7:00 pm on Thursday, July 30th, 2015. A service celebrating Garry’s life will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wallace Nebraska at 10:30 am Friday, July 31st, 2015. Burial will follow at Morningview Cemetery, Wallace Nebraska. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Garry Phelps Memorial Fund at Farmer’s State Bank in Wallace Nebraska. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.