Roy Gehrt Obituary

Roy Gehrt

April 2, 1957 - July 28, 2025

This is the story of a cowboy, my Roy Gehrt. No vanity intended, we referred to each other as my Roy Gehrt or his Joanie Gehrt. Roy was raised on the family farm south of Mason City by his parents, Dick and Della Gehrt, along with his siblings, Debbie, Jeanne and Jerry. Sorry Jerry, even though you were older, I thought Roy would love the last dig for all the fighting you two did.

He attended a one-room schoolhouse, Tufford, from K to eighth grade. As a freshman, he attended Ansley High School which he graduated from in 1975. A very responsible and dependable young man, he moved to his Uncle Harry's place at 15 years old to watch over his cattle. Roy was a born cowboy and loved the way of life and the code of honesty and truth. Though his mom thought he was kind of a rounder, he made his way to Ardmore, Okla. to attend and graduate from shoeing school (Farrier) in 1979. This would be an occupation he would excel at for the rest of his life. He did day work for Clarence Williams along with Rex Meyer, and they were very popular with ranchers gathering strays, moving cattle, or busting colts. He was a natural hand with horses. Growing in confidence and seeking something more, Roy attended and graduated from Kansas State University as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. He was honored to become a partner of the Overton Veterinary Service in 1992. He always said Dr. Bob Larson was someone he looked up to and wanted his respect. He was an excellent Veterinarian and his clients appreciated his skill and genuine concern for their animals. In 2017 his veterinary colleagues elected him President of the Nebraska Medical Association. A role he was so honored and proud. He practiced from 1992 to 2021.

Roy and I married on June 18, 1996, at the courthouse in Nebraska City. He was team roping and had some time off and thought it was a great idea. I would like to tell you our marriage was pixie dust and unicorns, but we fought as passionately as we loved. We built a beautiful life that we loved, and I and our children are blessed to have had him in our lives. His children that will forever love him are KC, Randy, Orion, Laura, and Sarah and our bonus family, the Bowders. We never allowed the term stepchildren in our language; we love them all so dearly. The littles that lit up his world include Roan and Dally Gehrt, Cordelia, Addalyn, Norah and Hazel Gehrt, Hadley Matthies, Malachi, Elizabeth and Madalyn Hansen and Skyler Horn, Layla, Boston, Scout and Rivers Bowder.

The world is a better place because of him, and he will be missed so dearly. But my Roy Gehrt has gone home to his heavenly Father, and we will be together again.

Services will be on Friday, August 1, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the Eddyville Community Center in Eddyville with Pastor Ken Hutson, officiating.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the United Church of Sumner East - Campus in Sumner.

Burial will be in Park Valley Cemetery near Eddyville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are kindly suggested to the Sumner Or Eddyville Volunteer Fire and Rescue or the Nebraska Veterinarian Medical Association Scholarship fund.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.