Yale David Hunt

Yale David Hunt

May 31, 1983 - Dec. 11, 2021

FAIRBURY, Neb. — Yale David Hunt of Fairbury passed away on Dec. 11, 2021, at Creighton/Bergan Mercy hospital in Omaha, Neb., at the age of 38.

He was born on May 31, 1983, to David and Loretta Hunt in McCook, Neb. Yale lived in Palisade, Neb., until his parents divorced and then he and his mother moved to Lakewood, Colo. In middle school, Yale was a very good student earning several certificates for academics in social studies and science. He also had several years of perfect attendance. Yale graduated from Jefferson County High School in Lakewood in 2001. He played both football and basketball all four years of high school and earned his “J” letter in basketball, his senior year. Yale kept busy during his junior and senior years of high school as the sports reporter for the school newspaper, called “The Saintinel.” Also during his senior year of high school, he was crowned prom king. After graduating, he moved to Lincoln, Neb., to be closer to his parents, David and Donna Hunt. Yale worked at both Graham Tire and Wal-Mart in Lincoln, until he transferred to the Wal-Mart store in Beatrice, Neb., and then soon after, moved to Fairbury to work at the Wal-Mart there. This worked out well for him as it was close to Donna’s family and would be easier for family get-togethers. In 2010, his parents, David and Donna, bought a house in Fairbury so they could be closer to Yale and the rest of the family. Yale was employed at Weston Foods in Fairbury and also at Reinke Manufacturing in Deshler, Neb. In September 2019, Yale was hired at Smithfield Distributors in Crete, Neb., as a material handler. There he was loved and respected by his coworkers and was known to many, as the “Gentle Giant.” Yale loved coming to his parents’ house for cookouts, where he and his father, David would discuss the Nebraska Huskers and the Kansas City Chiefs and how good or bad they were doing. He was an avid collector of panda bears and if you saw Yale driving around town, you would see his giant stuffed panda sitting in the front seat with him, as a carpooling buddy. He also enjoyed playing 10 point pitch, UNO and other board games with the family. Yale loved going to Pioneer Days in Palisade, Neb., where he enjoyed spending time with his uncles, aunts, and his many cousins. The family baseball game, in the park, was always a highlight for Yale, even though, there were a few bumps and bruises that would surely happen along the way.

Survivors include father, David Hunt and his wife, Donna of Fairbury; mother, Loretta Hoven of Carlisle, Iowa; uncles and aunts, Rodney (Laura) Hunt of Palisade, Valerie (Jim) Veach of Malmo, Neb., Joyce Phares of Fairbury, Roger Cerveny of Fairbury, Elden (Marty) Cerveny of Las Vegas, Nev.; and numerous cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joseph and Charlotte Hoven, Donald and Betty Hunt, Edmund and Evelynn Cerveny; uncles, Paul Hoven and Joe Hoven; aunt, Cecelia Nuck; and his two beloved cats, Mya and Yoda.

Yale was an organ donor, in which he was able to save three person’s lives, as he was able to donate his heart and kidneys. This made his parents David and Donna quite proud, as they both are organ transplant recipients themselves.

Services will be Jan. 8, 2022, at 11 a.m., at Gerdes-Meyer Chapel in Fairbury. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.