Ivan Dale Wurdeman, age 78, passed away with his wife by his side in Elkhorn, Nebraska. Born in Creston, NE, he built a long and meaningful life in Columbus, NE and El Paso, TX, before settling in Elkhorn, NE.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 28, at 10:30 am at Gass Haney Funeral Home in Columbus, NE, and will be officiated by friend Nathan Cabeen. Visitation will take place at 9:30 am preceding the service. Burial with full military honors by The American Legion Hartman Post 84 Honor Guard, will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family for later distribution.

Ivan was born on March 5th, 1948, in Columbus, NE to Marvin and Mable (Schmidt) Wurdeman. He attended school in Creston, NE and graduated from Creston High School in 1966. He later served in the United States Navy from May 3, 1967, to March 7, 1971, spending all four years aboard the USS Hamner (DD-718) with one deployment to Vietnam. After service in the Navy, he pursued a business degree at Platte College in Columbus.

He married Kathy Peitsch on August 11, 1973, in Columbus, Nebraska, where they welcomed their first daughter, Vicki. Ivan’s career with Vishay Dale Electronics soon took the family to El Paso, Texas, where he worked across the border in Ciudad Juárez, managing multiple maquiladora plants. While in Texas, they welcomed their second daughter, Lori, and spent 22 years raising their girls and supporting them in their various interests. After retiring in 2005, Ivan and Kathy returned to Columbus to be near family. They later moved to Elkhorn to spend more time with their daughters and 4 grandchildren, where they enjoyed Ivan’s final years together.

Ivan found joy in simple, meaningful things— a love for dogs, reading, fishing, camping, hunting, playing cards, and relaxing with a cold drink while the Huskers or the Miami Dolphins played. He was a man of good character who showed his love through action, providing for his family, offering steady advice, and encouraging his daughters to advocate for themselves in life and in their careers. Known for his wit and quiet generosity, he valued time with the people he cared about. A few cherished memories that reflect his playful side include his stories about how fast his 1971 red Barracuda could go, riding go carts in the El Paso desert, special days when the girls would go to work with him in Mexico, 4th of July firework displays, and the time he bought the grandkids pet ducks to live in his backyard pond.

Ivan is survived by his wife, Kathy of Elkhorn; his daughters, Vicki (Brian) Bautista of Omaha and Lori (Jay) Ethier of Elkhorn; and his grandchildren, Logan, Arik, Adelyn, and Blake. He is also survived by his brother, Dave (Cindy) Wurdeman of Seward, and their children, Terrin and Chase, and his sister in law Kris (Dave) Faltin of North Bend and their children, Kelly and Jenna.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Mable Wurdeman, and his in-laws, Chet and Millie Peitsch.