Gary Erlewine
Gary Lee Erlewine, 71, passed away in the presence of family on Oct. 14, 2022, at
Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver, Colo., following a lengthy respiratory illness.
Gary was born on May 5, 1951, in Ogallala, Neb., to Gale and Lucille Erlewine. He shared his childhood home on the family farm northeast of Grant, Neb., with his younger brothers, Tom and Ron.
Gary attended Grant schools K-12, graduating high school in 1969. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska in 1973, where he was a pledged member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
He continued on to Creighton University, Omaha, earning his Juris Doctor of Law degree in 1977.
Gary’s professional career included time as the city attorney in Columbus, Neb., followed by an independent law practice.
Gary moved to Colorado in 2002 to be closer to family and worked as a TSA agent at Denver International Airport for 11 years ending in 2013.
Gary made friends easily. He was kind of heart by nature and generous with his time to tend to the needs of others. Gary served as president of the Big Brother & Big Sister Association of Greater Columbus (Neb.) in 1983. He could routinely be found volunteering for charitable organizations on holidays in both Nebraska and Colorado.
Gary had an innate aptitude for problem solving, finding much pleasure in completing crossword puzzles and other word games on a daily basis. He also filled his days as an avid reader of books and newspapers. Gary cheered on the Colorado Rockies and Nebraska Cornhuskers, win or lose.
Gary’s especially memorable travel destinations included East Asia in 1982 and Arizona for Rockies Spring Training in 2013.
Gary will be greatly missed as a loving son, brother and friend.
Gary is survived by his father, Gale, and two brothers, Tom (Donna) and Ron (Minako).
Gary was preceded in death by his mother, Lucille.
A graveside service for family and friends will be held at the Fairview Cemetery in Grant on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Denise Johnson officiating.
Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.