Garold Dee Shiers, 84, of the Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home in Kearney, passed away on Friday, August 9, 2024. His memorial service will be held at 10:30am on Friday, August 16th, 2024, at Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff with Pastor Rick Reisig officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff with military honors. Memorials in Gary’s honor are respectfully made in care of his family to be designated at a later time. Online condolences may be made by viewing his memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com.
Gary was born on March 26,1940 to his parents, Alva Gage and Myrtle (Winchell) Shiers, at home in Lyman, Nebraska; the second oldest of eleven children. Gary lived his entire youth in Lyman where he was involved with farmwork, helping raise his siblings, and different sport activities. He began his military career while still in high school when he joined the Wyoming Army National Guard in Cheyenne during his senior year. After graduation, he joined the Marine Corp based in San Diego. He returned to Nebraska to marry his childhood sweetheart, Loretta Margheim, on June 21, 1959. The couple returned to live at Camp Pendleton and had their first child, Dan, on March 19, 1960. Gary served here in the Headquarters’ Post Office until his honorable discharge in 1962. The young family returned to Nebraska where he began his 40-year career with the Scottsbluff Post Office. They added to their family with a daughter, Tina, on September 29, 1962, and another son, Louie, on May 31, 1964.
Gary enjoyed many sports including baseball, basketball, golf, and bowling. During the summers the family spent many days and weekends boating at Lake Minatare. He spent his days off helping at the Margheim family farm. Many days after walking his postal route, he would bike up the Scotts Bluff Monument and back home. Gary completed his associate degree in business at Nebraska Western College in his spare time. He also joined the Army National Guard in 1979 and served for 16 years. Gary retired from the post office in 1999 and moved to Central City and then the Turtle Beach Lake Community 3 years later. In July 2023, Gary was moved to Westfield Community Care in Aurora, and in January 2024 to Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home in Kearney. He received excellent care here until his death when he lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Survivors include his wife – Loretta Shiers; daughter-Tina Anderson (Bill), daughter-in-law – Jimmi Shiers; grandchildren- Rob Anderson, Melissa Coburn (John), Dustin Shiers (Kay), Adam Shiers, Corey Shiers (Blanca), Trevor Shiers, and Ethan Shiers; Brent Eckman (Sammie) and Brittny Eckman (Jeremy); brothers- Butch (Linda), Tim (Kathy) ; sister – MaryAnn; sisters-in-law – Janet Shiers; brothers-in-law – Terry Margheim (Laura), Loren Margheim; many nieces, nephews, cousins and many more family members.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, his sons – Dan and Louie Shiers; brothers – Dick, Arnie, Donnie, Clifford, Shorty, Keith; and sister – Becky