Eugene H. 'Gene' Seier, 93, of Grand Island, passed away Monday, July 25, 2016 at Riverside Lodge Retirement Community in Grand Island. Funeral Service will be 10:30 am Saturday, July 30 at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home with The Reverend Jim Golka officiating. Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home Chapel followed by a Christian Wake Service beginning at 7:00 pm. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary's Cathedral. Online condolences may be directed to www.livson.com.
Mr. Seier was born June 15, 1923 at Grand Island, NE to Rudolph and Helen (Buettner) Seier. He attended Grand Island Public Schools and graduated from Senior High School in 1941. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II from May of 1943 to January of 1946 and the Korean War from October of 1950 to September of 1951.
He married Bertha Rodabaugh on January 15, 1947. She passed away on October 28, 1988. He married Claire Rogers on April 6, 1991. She passed away on November 26, 2007.
At the age of 16, Gene studied and passed the examination for an Amateur Radio Operator's License. As a result, he was offered a part-time job as a control room operator at the radio station KMMJ during his last semester in High School. After more study and obtaining his commercial operator's license, he eventually became a full-time staff member and Chief Engineer, a job that lasted for 27 years. As television grew he eventually became employed by the Nebraska ETV Commission as Transmitter Supervisor at KHNE-TV for 22 years.
Gene was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral and the Knights of Columbus. He served in the Scouting program as Scoutmaster of Troop 109 for a time until becoming involved in the organization of the Northwest High School District, serving as the first President of the Northwest High School Board of Education, serving a total of 12 years on the board. He also served for many years as a member of the Hall County School District Reorganization Committee. During this time he also served as a volunteer fireman with the Grand Island Rural Fire Dept. for 27 years.
As an Amateur Radio Operator he was a member of the American Radio Relay League, Quarter Century Wireless Association, and the Grand Island Amateur Radio Society. Professionally he was a member of the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers.
He was also a member of the Platte-Duetsche, the Saddle Club, and in the past a member of the Eagles, Liederkranz and the VFW.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, David and Sally Seier of Highlands Ranch, CO and William and Julie Seier of Lincoln; one daughter and son-in law, Lois and Joseph Eisenberg of Lincoln; one step-son and two step-daughters-in-law, Sharon A. Rogers of Davey, NE, Roy E. Rogers and Linda Rogers of Fremont; three step-daughters and step-sons in law, Edith and Charles Humiston of Grand Island, Debra and Mark Christenson of Grand Island and Sharon and Terry Brooks of Dannebrog.
Additional survivors include five grandchildren; eighteen step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and twenty-six step-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Bertha and Claire; a brother, Lester Seier; a sister Marilyn Seier; and step-son, Frank Rogers.