Obituary for Ken Gnadt Ken Gnadt, 85, of Grand Island passed away on Thursday, September 13, 2018, at CHI Health Saint Francis. Service and celebration of Ken’s life will be at 3:00 p.m. Monday at St. Pauls Lutheran Church. Reverends Edgar Schambach Jr. and William Pavuk will officiate.
To honor Ken’s wishes, cremation will take place following the service. Private family burial of ashes will be in the Grand Island Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at All Faiths Funeral Home.
Born October 18, 1932 on a small farm near Alma, Kansas, the son of Clarence and Edna (Arand) Gnadt. Ken graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Animal Science and obtained a graduate degree in banking from the University of Wisconsin. Ken married his college sweetheart, Bonnie (Bonita) Brannagan, and the two of them raised five children.
Ken has been an active force in Central Nebraska for many years. His career has stretched from agricultural trade and commerce to local government. He worked on the family farm with his father, which led to working for Farmland Industries in agricultural sales.
Later on, he became an agricultural loan officer for First National Bank in Alma, Kansas and then spent a number of years with Nutrena Feeds in Fort Worth TX, Sioux City IA, and Grand Island. During his business career, Ken spent almost seven years in Taiwan where he saw first-hand the importance of Nebraska’s economic partnership with Taiwan. A community leader and advocate for philanthropy in the community, Ken served as Mayor of Grand Island from 1994 to 2002 and was instrumental in securing the I-80 South Locust Interchange, the Wood River Flood Control Project, launching the first “Hike and Bike Trails” in the area, and promoting the building of the Heartland Event Center.
As a Rotarian for 54 years, Ken has been honored by Rotary International, Nebraska Diplomats, Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, Grand Island International Visitors and Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival. In 2012 Ken was named the Distinguished NEBRASKAlander for his contributions to agriculture and agribusiness, service to his community, and service to the state at large. Ken joined the Grand Island Community Foundation Board of Trustees in January 2014.
Ken has been an active volunteer in numerous organizations. He served as a Charter Board Member for Husker Harvest Days for 41 years. Also, Nebraska Nature and Visitor Center, Saint Francis Medical Center Foundation, School Advisory for the Grand Island Public Schools Superintendent, The Grand Island Independent, Stuhr Museum, Children’s Groundwater Festival and Groundwater Guardians.
He was part of the group that started the first Husker Harvest Days, which has been going on for 38 years and attracts visitors from all over the world. Ken is an active member of St. Pauls Lutheran Church and active with the Hall County Historical Society, the oldest historical society in Nebraska. Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Jim (Christi) Gnadt of Grand Island, John (Jayne) Gnadt of Highlands Ranch, CO, Jerry (Amy) Gnadt of Aurora, CO, Janet (Chris) Ringel of Arlington, TX, and Jeff Gnadt of Aurora, CO; four grandchildren, Brittany (Nate) Walton, Jordon Ringel, Eli (Lauren) Ringel, and Chelsea (Bryan) Cox; and five great-grandchildren, Heidi Cox, Henry Walton, Catherine Walton, Allie Ringel and Camille Cox.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie, who passed in 2009; and his parents. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Stuhr Museum Foundation, Saint Francis Foundation or St. Pauls Lutheran Church. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ken Gnadt please visit our Sympathy Store.
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