Albert H. Gutz, (formerly of Shelby) passed from this earthly life to Life Eternal in Heaven with Jesus Christ on Friday, February 12, 2021, at his home in Columbus, Nebraska, at the age of 99. His Celebration of Life will be at 10:30 AM, Thursday, February 18, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Gresham, Nebraska, with Rev. Lee Seetin officiating. Knowing he is absent from the body, present with the Lord, his earthly body will be laid to rest in the church cemetery following the service, with military honors by The American Legion Hartman Post 84 Honor Guard. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4–6 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home in Columbus. Everyone is welcome for a short prayer service at 5:30 PM. Visitation will continue on Thursday from 9:30 AM until service time at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Mission Central, Immanuel Lutheran School, Camp Luther, Lutheran Hour, or the donor's choice. The funeral service will be broadcast live on Gass Haney Facebook page.

Albert Henry Frank Gutz was born on January 8, 1922, to loving Christian parents, Amandus and Alvina (Pfanstiel) Gutz, at their rural Osmond farm. He was baptized January 22, 1922, confirmed on April 14, 1935, and attended parochial school, all at Immanuel Lutheran in Osmond.

Albert left farming to proudly serve his country in the U.S. Navy from January, 1944 to March, 1946, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Radioman 2nd Class. He served aboard the USS Zeilin and was involved in many battles in the Pacific during WWII. A kamikaze plane hit the ship, as they were bound for the first wave of action at Iwo Jima. They were towed to dry dock for temporary repairs, and quickly pressed back into service for a later attack wave. During a leave home, a fellow sailor from Iowa took Al to meet his family, which included the sailor's kid sister, Loverna. Unbeknownst to Al, she had "set her cap" for him and a few years later, she became his wife. Albert married Loverna "Vernie" Heineman on June 6, 1948, at Immanuel Lutheran in Osmond. This loving union produced five children, Gregory, Timothy, Lori, Mark and Rebecca. An added blessing of a third daughter, Kimberley, came through adoption following the death of Vernie's sister in 1966.

In 1948, Al joined Union Pacific Railroad as a Telegrapher/Agent. Early on, his seniority required frequent moves to locations across Nebraska. For the first nine years of marriage, their "tiny home" was on wheels and towed behind their car, making those moves very efficient. Eventually, in 1960, they settled in Shelby, NE. After retiring in 1983, Al enjoyed more years in retirement than in employment!

Al & Vernie were active in their church, wherever they lived. After moving to Shelby, the family chose St. Peter's in Gresham as their church home. Al served on church boards, taught catechism and Sunday School, and was active in Lutheran Laymen's League. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 3704 and the American Legion. They enjoyed Union Pacific Oldtimers, USS Zeilin Ship Reunions, traveling, gardening, playing cribbage, and spending time with their kids, grandkids, and extended family and friends.

Albert "walked the walk", with his eyes constantly on Jesus and never wavered in his faith. He spent a lifetime witnessing, instilling and nurturing faith in Jesus, not just with his family but with anyone he met. To the end, he was encouraging his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in their faith, and looking forward to a grand reunion in Heaven.

Those left behind to cherish Al's memory: Son Gregory (Alice) Gutz of Fremont, NE, Son Timothy (Dixie) Gutz - Columbus, NE; Daughter – Lori (Terry) Borchers – Columbus, NE; Son-in-law – Matthew Thomas – Genoa, NE; Son – Mark Gutz – North Platte, NE, Daughter – Rebecca (John) Rose – Newcastle, WY. Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren - Sarah (Jon) Zatechka, Isaac & Estella; Seth(Emily) Gutz, Elijah & Evangeline; Samuel (Stacy) Gutz, William, Caroline, Amelia; Danielle (Franklin) Doerneman, Katelyn, Hailey & Fynn; Brett Borchers (Melissa); Thadeus (Amy) Borchers & Colson; Zachary Thomas (Jenny) & Tyler Steiner; Whitney (Jordan) Fuesser; Jordan Thomas & Levi; Regis Gutz; Nicole Gutz; Tyler (Beth) Weishahn & Avery; Malinda Zahnow (Danny); Tiffany Zahnow; Anthony Zahnow (Nakayla) & Dimitri. Brother – Arnold "Bud" (Maxine) Gutz; Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law - Paul & Karon Heineman, Kenneth Kirchner, Alberta Karll, and David Talbert, as well as many other relatives and friends.

Albert joins those already in Heaven, including wife Vernie (2015), his parents, parents-in-law Carl and Evalyn Heineman, daughter Kimberley Thomas, daughter-in-law Pamela (Fagen) Gutz, grandson Carl August Gutz, brothers Martin, Herbert, and Richard, and sisters Hilda Jensen, Helen Gansebom and Lydia Peters.

Service Folder Information
For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 – Al's Confirmation Verse


Those Who Died in Christ
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18



Absent from the body,
Present with the Lord!

2 Corinthians 5:8



In Loving Memory Of

Albert "Al" H. Gutz

Born
Sunday, January 8, 1922
Osmond, Nebraska

Entered Into Eternal Glory
Friday, February 12, 2021
Columbus, Nebraska

Celebration of Life
Thursday, February 18, 2021 10:30 AM
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Gresham, Nebraska

Officiant
Rev. Lee Seetin

Music
Kristin Foley – Organist
"O Savior, Precious Savior"
"Let Me Be Thine Forever"
"How Great Thou Art"
"Rock of Ages"
"The Doxology"

Casket Bearers ~ Grandsons
Seth Gutz
Samuel Gutz
Brett Borchers
Thadeus Borchers
Zachary Thomas
Jordan Thomas
Regis Gutz
Tyler Weishahn
Anthony Zahnow

Honorary Casket Bearers ~ Granddaughters
Sarah Zatechka
Danielle Doerneman
Nicole Gutz
Whitney Fuesser
Malinda Zahnow
Tiffany Zahnow

Interment
St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery
Gresham, Nebraska

Military Honors
The American Legion Hartman Post 84 Honor Guard