Sherman E. Gillett

Sherman E. Gillett, 74, died Friday (June 20, 2003) at the Florence Home in Omaha.

He was born May 13, 1929, at home in Havelock, to Wendell and Emma (Zaspel) Gillett. The family moved to rural Sioux County, where he attended three different rural schools. he attended Sioux County High School and graduated from Crawford High School in 1947. He worked at the Nash Finch Company Warehouse Grocery for a year before enrolling at the University of Nebraska College of Agriculture in Lincoln. His studies were interrupted by the Korean War. He enlisted and was sent to a machinist school in Maryland. He was assigned to an engineering outfit in England which built jet airstrips. He returned to the University of Nebraska and graduated with a bachelors degree in agriculture in 1955. He taught vocational agriculture in Bartlett and Creighton for three years.

In Dec. 1955, he married Barbara Ellen Hamilton of Omaha. In June of 1958, the family moved to Beatrice where he was appointed to a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service. He worked primarily with the Small Watershed Program in Beatrice, Wilbur, Grant, Trenton and Hayes Center. He retired in 1985, in McCook.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wendell and Emma Gillett.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara; two daughters, Marcia and husband, Larry Adler of Omaha and Nancy Gillett of Columbus, Ind.; two sons, Joel Gillett and wife, Anita of Solon, Iowa, and Glenn Gillett and wife, Barbara of Burlington, Iowa; two sisters, Charlotte and husband, Frank Olbricht of Crawford and Ellen Gillett of Grant; and nine grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, 4 p.m., at Braman Mortuary in Omaha. There will be no burial. Per his wishes, his body is being donated to science.

Visitation with the family is one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be given in his name to the McCook Food Pantry, 108 West F Street, McCook, NE 69001.

Boyd E. Braman Mortuary, 1702 N. 72nd Street, is in charge of arrangements.