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Mr. Willis “Gus” Gene Henrichson

Date of birth 10/05/1938
Date of passing 01/03/2025

Gus Henrichson, age 86 of Ceresco Nebraska, was born October 5, 1938, in Wahoo Nebraska.  He passed away at the Saunders Medical Center January 3, 2025.  He is the son of James and Ileta (Beaman) Henrichson.  He was the last survivor of the family which included his older brother Duane, younger brother Merlin, and half brother Jimmy.  He is survived by sister in law Mary Henrichson, cousins, nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Gus lived on a farm east of Weston, later moving to Weston living at several locations, and attended Weston Public School in 1943 until his parents divorced in 1949.  Gus then attended Ceresco Public School and graduated in 1956.  He played football for the Ceresco Eagles, sang in the schools chorus, and participated in school plays as an actor.  After High School Gus enlisted in the Navy Seabees.  He was stationed as a Navel Driver in Germany and France motor pools.  Gus had the honors of meeting and shaking hands with John F. Kennedy and drove for him while stationed there.  After his 4 year Navy Carrier he was honorably discharged and returned to Ceresco to live with his mother and younger brother Merlin.  Gus worked as a bridge construction foreman for Saunders County Highway Department for the next 46 years.

Gus was married in 1977 to Rosalene (Roubal) Pelan.  She preceded him in death November 22, 2010. Rose had 2 children, Gary and Gail, from a previous marriage who Gus treated as his own kids.  Together Gus and Rose loved to travel, collect antique treasurers, go to auctions, and even had a small business selling old collectables.  In the early 80’s Gus took on the challenge of having a house moved In Ceresco and used his carpenter skills to finish their home.  Gus was a big Nebraska Football fan, and was constantly attending to a lifetime coin collection, part of which was started by his uncle Clarence Hagestrom and is to be remembered as both their legacy collection.  He continued to build this collection long into his retirement – a little change at a time!

Gus moved to South Haven in 2021 due to polio complications which he suffered from in his younger years which was affecting his mobility.  He was resistive to the move at first but soon learned to cope with the facility personnel and other occupants with his jokes, stories, and odd jokester items we can’t mention in this obituary!  He loved to look at old family and event pictures that were brought in to him to help identify.  He even found out that George Washington, our first president, is a distant, but related cousin, and actor John Wayne is an 8th cousin.   He met new friends and even met other occupants he already knew there at South Haven.  Gus was proud of his husky stature which he proudly used to play Santa Clause to the entire facility around Christmas.  Gus played Santa many times throughout his lifetime, be it for his nieces and nephews, or his married family children and grandchildren, and even for hire.  He looked forward to the annual job of spreading the Christmas cheer with everyone.  He got to be Santa Claus this past Christmas one last time and looked forward to doing the job for everyone at South Haven.

Special thanks need to go out to Gus’s neighbors in Ceresco, Ceresco Fire and Rescue, Ceresco Legion, Wahoo Legion, Ceresco Methodist Church, Hospice and Home Health Services of Wahoo, Saunders Medical Facility and staff, Methodist Hospital and Methodist Physicians Clinic, and South Haven Living Center and staff, for helping Gus in times when he needed your help and you assisted.  He says Th

Link to obituary

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