Gerald Eugene Fenwick

Gerald "Jerry" Eugene Fenwick, 92, of Ogallala, Neb., died Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Banner Hospital in Ogallala.

Jerry was born Dec. 7, 1933, on the Fenwick farm northeast of Brule, Neb., the first of three children of Harold and Mary Ihrig Fenwick.

He attended a one-room country school, District 20 in Keith County, from first through eighth grade. He went on to the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis, where he graduated from high school in 1952.

After graduating, he farmed for his father for a while. He worked as a butcher at Gano's Grocery Store in Ogallala and traveled to Oklahoma with a wheat harvest crew. At Mel's Radio and TV, in the days when television was new to the area, he put up 40-foot towers anchored in concrete bases, without a safety belt. He was employed at Goodall Manufacturing, buffing the reel parts used on fishing rods, and he enjoyed a short-term job during the Christmas season at the Mr. Shop, a men’s clothing store in Ogallala.

Jerry married Janette Hallett in 1958. Four children were born to the marriage, two boys and two girls. He was a volunteer fireman with the Ogallala Fire Department.

After his marriage, he went to work for Stickney's Inc., first as an employee and later as manager of the store in Yuma, Colo., for 15 years. The store sold vehicle parts, tires, televisions, washers, dryers and refrigerators. He was with the company 29 years.

After all the children graduated, he and Janette moved back to Keith County, where he farmed for 10 years, raising wheat, corn and sunflowers.

He was then hired as a salesman by The Vernon Company, where he sold promotional items. In his first year with the company, he was named Rookie of the Year in the Rocky Mountain Region for top sales, and he received an acknowledgment plaque for every year he sold $1 million worth of goods. He worked for that company for 25 years. Many had commented, "Jerry is a natural salesman." As a result of his good salesmanship, he won a free cruise in the Pacific Ocean along the West Coast of the United States and Mexico, with stops inland to see the sights. He said one time of that was enough.

Jerry liked the competition of sports and played football in high school. Afterward, he was a catcher for a softball team in Ogallala, where he surprised spectators with how fast he could run. He belonged to two bowling teams and carried a 170 average. He took up golf and took his grandchildren to different courses to play. In the late 1950s, he drove his 1957 Chevrolet in the drag races at Julesburg, Colo.

He was a charter member of the Ogallala Garden Club. He built a raised bed at home and grew vegetables. His favorite flowering plants were roses and iris, and he planted and grew both.

He was a member of the Flatlanders Car Club. He took great pleasure in buying a 1967 Ford Mustang High Country Special and watching the restoration process, and the Mustang was featured in the 2010 Snap-on Tools calendar. He also bought a 1941 Ford truck and had it restored with an oak wood flatbed. He enjoyed taking both to car shows. The '41 truck won the People's Choice Award at a car show in the mall at North Platte in May 2017, and both vehicles had been featured at the car club show in the mall.

Jerry enjoyed his children's sports and music events. He was also a fan of Nebraska Husker football and Nebraska girls volleyball.

He accepted Jesus as his Savior at a later age in his life.

He will be remembered for his sense of humor and his gift of conversation.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Carol; his brother, Dean; and a great-granddaughter, Laney Lynn Hilton.

He is survived by his wife, Janette, of Ogallala; his children, James (Janet) Fenwick, Jody Fenwick, Jill (Jake) Jehorek and Jon Fenwick; grandchildren Rachel (Chad) Mentzer and Riley (Ashley) Hilton; and great-grandchildren Karsyn Mentzer, Trevin Mentzer, Rhett Hilton and Rae Hilton.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at GracePoint Church in Ogallala, with Pastor Curtis Tschetter officiating. Interment will follow at the Ogallala Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala.

A memorial has been established in Jerry's memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the service will be streamed live.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.