Crystal Gerdes
Crystal Lorraine Gerdes was born October 20, 1966, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, the second of four children and only daughter born to Ellis and Sharon (Beck) Gibbs, passed on to Heaven, Thursday, May 28, 2020 in Friend, Nebraska at the age of 53.
As a young girl, she attended grade school at Parmalee Elementary in Indian Hills, Colorado and later graduated from Wheatland High School in Madrid, Nebraska with the class of 1985. Crystal furthered her education by enrolling in McCook Community College and Kearney State College, graduating with Bachelors of Arts Degree with an emphasis in early childhood and special education in 1989.
Crystal was united in marriage to Gregory Gerdes on August 12, 1988, in Kearney and to this union two daughters, Lynn and Mikaela were born. She was both a daycare provider and a para-professional working with children with special needs.
Crystal’s life-long passion was working with children, even when she was a little child herself. She enjoyed serving children and was always drawn to those who needed help with special needs, even to the end. Her family was the center of her life and love the time with them, especially Christmas time. Crystal always put other first.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ellis and Sharon Gibbs; husband, Gregory Gerdes in 1993; a niece, Casie Gibbs in 2012; and a father-in-law, Rod Gerdes.
Crystal is survived by two daughters; Lynn (Brian) Pethoud, of Beaver Crossing; Mikaela Gerdes, of Lincoln; 3 grandchildren, Aidyn, Blake and Chloe Pethoud, all of Beaver Crossing; brothers and sister-in-law; Curtis Gibbs, of Imperial; Clark (Cathy) Gibbs, of Sutton; Collin Gibbs, of Omaha; mother-in-law; Carolyn Gerdes, of North Platte; along with many other relatives and countless friends.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at the Lauber Funeral Home in Friend, Neb.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 5, 2020 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (M.T.) in the Draucker Funeral Home Chapel, in Ogallala, Neb.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. MT, Saturday, June 6, 2020, from the Gracepoint Church in Ogallala, with Rev. Curtis Tschetter officiating.
Interment will be at 2 p.m. CT in the Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens, south of North Platte, Neb.
Anyone wanting to watch the service, we will be live streamed at 10:00 a.m (M.T.) by going to www.drauckerfh.com. The service will also be posted on the web site for later viewing.
Memorials may be directed in care of the family for future designation.
Online condolences may be left by clicking the Share a Memory or the Tribute Wall Button by going to www.drauckerfh.com.
Lauber Funeral Home of Friend has been entrusted with arrangements. Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala has been entrusted with local arrangements.